GRAHAME Maxwell, the chief constable of North Yorkshire Police, faces new controversy next week when North Yorkshire County Council will hold a vote of no confidence in him.

Mr Maxwell kept his job, despite calls from local MPs and councillors for him to step down, after he finally admitted discreditable behaviour amounting to gross misconduct in a disciplinary hearing into how he sought preferential treatment for a relative during a force recruitment drive.

But after details of the cost of the investigation became public, showing that the £218,000 cost to the taxpayer could have been significantly reduced had Mr Maxwell admitted gross misconduct sooner, the subject is to flare up again.

At the full meeting of North Yorkshire County Council on July 20, Liberal Democrat group leader Geoff Webber has tabled the motion, which says: “Following the Chief Constable’s admission of gross misconduct, and the significant expense to the public purse of the enquiry resulting from his failure to admit the gross misconduct at an early stage, that this council no longer has confidence in Mr Maxwell as Chief Constable.”