Yorkshire police chief faces disciplinary hearing over 'jobs for relatives' claims

Grahame Maxwell is understood to be the first UK chief constable in 35 years to face such a hearing, which carries a maximum penalty of dismissal. His deputy, Adam Briggs, faces a lesser misconduct charge.

Mr Maxwell and Mr Briggs, North Yorkshire's two most senior police officers, are alleged to have unfairly helped relatives during a campaign to recruit 60 student officers to the force.

It is claimed that Mr Maxwell phoned one of his relatives, who was trying to apply, after the recruitment hotline crashed, leaving thousands of applicants unable to get through.

Relatives of both senior officers were not on a list of names who managed to contact the force before the line failed, but they were still called back.

Two staff members at the force have been sacked and a police constable has been given a final written warning for their involvement in the exercise, which was investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

North Yorkshire received about 350,000 calls during the week-long recruitment drive, but application forms were only made available to the first 1,000 suitable candidates.

Ironically, the force announced on Tuesday that it could not afford to take on any of the applicants, adding that it would not be recruiting any officers for the "foreseeable future".

The IPCC released a statement this morning, which read: "The IPCC has concluded its independent investigation into allegations against North Yorkshire Police's Chief Constable, Grahame Maxwell, and his deputy, Adam Briggs, in relation to a recruitment exercise conducted by the force.

"The findings from the investigation have been shared with North Yorkshire Police Authority's Police Professional Standards Sub-Committee, which has responded by recommending that the Chief Constable should attend a hearing for gross misconduct and the Deputy Chief Constable should attend a misconduct meeting.

"The IPCC has agreed with those recommendations. Arrangements for the future hearing and meeting are ongoing.

"The IPCC has also concluded its management of an investigation by North Yorkshire Police's Professional Standards Department into allegations against two members of police staff and a police constable in relation to the same recruitment exercise.

"The two members of police staff faced a disciplinary hearing for gross misconduct over allegations they had used their position to circumvent the recruitment process for their own gain. Both were dismissed from the force.

"The police constable faced a misconduct meeting in relation to an allegation that he assisted police staff under his line management to circumvent the recruitment process. He was issued with a final written warning.

"The IPCC will not be in a position to publish its findings from the investigations until all misconduct matters are concluded."