THE man who heads York’s crime and community safety initiatives has reacted with surprise to reports that North Yorkshire’s chief constable Grahame Maxwell wants to extend his contract.

North Yorkshire Police Authority is due on Thursday to discuss Mr Maxwell’s application to stay on in his role.

His spell in charge is due to end next May.

Coun Sandy Fraser, City of York Council’s cabinet member for crime and community safety, said: “It is clearly a matter for North Yorkshire Police Authority, but I am surprised, given that it is so soon after disciplinary action was taken against him and his admission of gross misconduct.”

Mr Maxwell was disciplined for pulling strings on behalf of a relative in a force recruitment drive after an investigation costing £300,000.

Coun Geoff Webber, Liberal Democrat group leader on North Yorkshire County Council, who tabled a motion of no confidence in Mr Maxwell following the disciplinary hearing, said: “He should have resigned. Most people in his position, having had a final warning, having been found guilty of gross misconduct, would have resigned.”

Meanwhile, Mr Maxwell and police authority chairman Jane Kenyon have written to Prime Minister David Cameron to “robustly dispute” his claims that North Yorkshire would only suffer a 2.4 cut to its policing budget over the next four years.

They say the region is instead facing a 16 per cent funding reduction, including a six per cent drop per head of population next year, and invite Mr Cameron to visit North Yorkshire.