Updated: NORTH Yorkshire’s chief constable is to face a charge of gross misconduct at a disciplinary hearing following claims he rigged a force recruitment drive to benefit his own relatives.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has completed its investigation into allegations against Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell and his deputy, Adam Briggs.

Mr Maxwell is the first UK chief constable in 35 years to face a disciplinary hearing. The maximum penalty for gross misconduct is dismissal.

It is also alleged Mr Briggs helped relatives during a bid to recruit 60 new officers, which hit the headlines when thousands of people tried to phone the force to apply.

He is facing a lesser misconduct charge – a final warning is a possible punishment, if proven.

In the meantime Mr Maxwell and his deputy will remain in charge of the force. A force spokesman said: “It will be business as usual.”

A further two police staff members have already been dismissed for gross misconduct over attempts to circumvent the same recruitment process for their own gain. A police constable has been issued with a final written warning.

It is claimed 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 did not make it on to a small list of names before the lines went down, but were still called back.

Application forms were only being made available to the first 1,000 suitable candidates, but the force received 350,000 calls in the week the phone line was open.

The IPCC has released a statement, which reads: “The Independent Police Complaints Commission 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.”

A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said the two staff members at the force who have been sacked and the police constable who has been given a final written warning have a right to appeal. They added: “For that reason, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this time.”

Ironically, the force announced last week that the entire recruitment process had been scrapped as part of the recent cuts in public spending.


Thousands responded to hotline

North Yorkshire Police said they had been overwhelmed by an “unprecedented” response in February when 20,000 people called in one day to apply for 60 jobs as officers. The force set up a new phone number for applicants to dial after the original hotline experienced “unforeseen technical difficulties” due to the volume of calls.

A day later, the force said calls had topped 200,000 and Mr Maxwell and Mr Briggs were pictured manning the phones, along with assistant chief constable Sue Cross.

Mr Briggs said then: “We have had an incredible response to the recruitment campaign and it was nice to be able to get involved and lend a hand.” A day later the force said the numbers calling had passed 350,000. Mr Briggs said: “The recruitment hotline is an emphatic demonstration of public confidence in North Yorkshire Police. This is clearly shown by the sheer perseverance of those wishing to work for a successful and forward-thinking organisation that serves our communities.”


From the ranks to head of the force

POLICING has always been in Grahame Maxwell’s blood.

His father and brother-in-law were both policemen before they retired and he has a sister who is a serving officer.

After graduating in 1983 with a first-class degree in chemistry from Newcastle University, Mr Maxwell embarked on the start of his now 28-year policing career.

He joined Cleveland Police as a bobby on the beat, and served in all ranks from constable to chief superintendent in a mix of both uniform and CID roles.

In 2000 Mr Maxwell was appointed as an assistant chief constable with West Yorkshire Police, a role he carried out for five years until he took up the post as deputy chief constable of South Yorkshire.

Mr Maxwell joined North Yorkshire Police in May 2007, succeeding the former chief constable, Della Cannings.

He said then he was “delighted” to join a force with a “fine reputation” and that the role was the pinnacle of his career.

Mr Maxwell said his top priority would be to make North Yorkshire Police the leading force in Britain in terms of neighbourhood policing.

Since December 2009 he has been the head of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) finance and resources business area, and was therefore heavily involved in discussions about the comprehensive spending review and the future funding of the police service.

Mr Maxwell has been married for 24 years and has one son.