THE CHIEF police constable of Cleveland, in the northeast of England and his deputy have been suspended from their posts after they were arrested as part of a criminal inquiry into corruption within the police authority.
Chief Const Sean Price and Derek Bonnard, his deputy, were taken in for questioning on suspicion of misconduct in a public office, corrupt practice and fraud by abuse of position.
The third person arrested is a female member of the police staff.
Warwickshire police force, which is running the investigation, would not comment on the identities of those arrested.
A spokesman said: “Police officers conducting a criminal investigation into a number of people with current or past associations with Cleveland police authority and the manner in which the authority may have conducted some of its business have this morning [August 3rd] arrested three people on suspicion of misconduct in a public office, fraud by abuse of position and corrupt practice.
“Two men and a woman were arrested and have been taken to a police station in North Yorkshire where they will be interviewed later today. A number of premises are being searched in connection with these arrests.”
The Cleveland branch of the Police Federation said it could not comment but hoped the matter would be concluded as quickly as possible. Its statement added: “This news has come as a massive shock to our members who are already facing massive concerns with regards to their pay and conditions of service, along with pension worries.”
The three arrests come after a two-month inquiry by Warwickshire police into allegations that the Cleveland police authority was corrupt in the way it was running its business.
Chief Const Price is also the subject of an inquiry by the Independent Police Complaints Commission into claims he used undue influence to get a job for the daughter of the then chairman of the police authority, Dave McLuckie.
The criminal investigation is investigating a series of contracts awarded to businesses. Mr McLuckie stood down in May within days of the criminal investigation beginning, but denied any wrongdoing.
The inquiry is being run by Warwickshire with officers from North Yorkshire police. Cleveland police was the subject of a corruption investigation in the late 1990s. – (Guardian service)