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| Cleveland deputy chief constable sacked for gross misconduct | Cleveland deputy chief constable sacked for gross misconduct |
| (10 days later) | |
| The deputy chief constable of a scandal-hit police force has been sacked for gross misconduct. | The deputy chief constable of a scandal-hit police force has been sacked for gross misconduct. |
| Derek Bonnard had been suspended by Cleveland police pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings. | Derek Bonnard had been suspended by Cleveland police pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings. |
| In October, Cleveland's former chief constable Sean Price was the first in 35 years to be dismissed. | In October, Cleveland's former chief constable Sean Price was the first in 35 years to be dismissed. |
| Police said six counts of gross misconduct were upheld and an independent panel decided to dismiss Bonnard without notice. | Police said six counts of gross misconduct were upheld and an independent panel decided to dismiss Bonnard without notice. |
| He was found to have deliberately obstructed the criminal investigation known as Operation Sacristy; misused public funds in relation to a charity bike ride; misused a corporate credit card; inappropriately hired a vehicle which he crashed, costing the taxpayer over £5,000; accepted inappropriate hospitality; and failed to follow policy and procedure in relation to a redundancy matter. | He was found to have deliberately obstructed the criminal investigation known as Operation Sacristy; misused public funds in relation to a charity bike ride; misused a corporate credit card; inappropriately hired a vehicle which he crashed, costing the taxpayer over £5,000; accepted inappropriate hospitality; and failed to follow policy and procedure in relation to a redundancy matter. |
| The hearing followed an investigation carried out by the Independent Police Complaints Commission after a referral from Cleveland Police Authority in August 2011. | The hearing followed an investigation carried out by the Independent Police Complaints Commission after a referral from Cleveland Police Authority in August 2011. |
| Price's successor as chief constable of Cleveland police, Jacqui Cheer, said: "In May 2012, Derek Bonnard publicly stated he was innocent of any wrongdoing and wanted his name cleared. He also described the investigation as highly expensive, recognising that it was funded by taxpayers. | Price's successor as chief constable of Cleveland police, Jacqui Cheer, said: "In May 2012, Derek Bonnard publicly stated he was innocent of any wrongdoing and wanted his name cleared. He also described the investigation as highly expensive, recognising that it was funded by taxpayers. |
| "Quite clearly, he is not innocent of any wrongdoing, and he has succeeded in delaying his misconduct hearing, which has incurred additional cost for the taxpayer. | "Quite clearly, he is not innocent of any wrongdoing, and he has succeeded in delaying his misconduct hearing, which has incurred additional cost for the taxpayer. |
| "Throughout the investigation and the disciplinary process he has sought to blame others for his own actions and behaviours. | "Throughout the investigation and the disciplinary process he has sought to blame others for his own actions and behaviours. |
| "He has let himself down, he has let Cleveland police down but most importantly, he has let the people of Cleveland down. The force deserves much better from one of its most senior officers. | "He has let himself down, he has let Cleveland police down but most importantly, he has let the people of Cleveland down. The force deserves much better from one of its most senior officers. |
| "I am disappointed that he has at no stage of the process attempted to take any responsibility for his actions or show any concern for how much this has cost the public of Cleveland. | "I am disappointed that he has at no stage of the process attempted to take any responsibility for his actions or show any concern for how much this has cost the public of Cleveland. |
| "If he had admitted his misconduct earlier, he would have saved the taxpayer a significant amount of money. We estimate that the hearing cost almost £500,000. | "If he had admitted his misconduct earlier, he would have saved the taxpayer a significant amount of money. We estimate that the hearing cost almost £500,000. |
| "Derek Bonnard made a commitment through his legal team in the high court that should he be dismissed following this hearing, he would pay back the salary he has received since November 2012. This amounts to over £40,000. If this is not forthcoming, action will be taken to recover this money." | "Derek Bonnard made a commitment through his legal team in the high court that should he be dismissed following this hearing, he would pay back the salary he has received since November 2012. This amounts to over £40,000. If this is not forthcoming, action will be taken to recover this money." |
| In the last 18 months the force has made changes, including reducing the number of corporate credit cards from 71 to 46 and updating the policy for their use. It has also changed policy on gifts and hospitality and set up an integrity and transparency board. | In the last 18 months the force has made changes, including reducing the number of corporate credit cards from 71 to 46 and updating the policy for their use. It has also changed policy on gifts and hospitality and set up an integrity and transparency board. |
| The force said one matter of potential gross misconduct for Bonnard had been deferred pending the outcome of the wider criminal investigation ongoing as part of Operation Sacristy. | The force said one matter of potential gross misconduct for Bonnard had been deferred pending the outcome of the wider criminal investigation ongoing as part of Operation Sacristy. |
| As Bonnard is no longer a serving police officer, he is not subject to any further police disciplinary processes, the statement said. | As Bonnard is no longer a serving police officer, he is not subject to any further police disciplinary processes, the statement said. |
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