POLICE chiefs in North Yorkshire are at the centre of a fresh probe over a £10,000 training course for one of their most senior officers.

North Yorkshire Police must wait to discover whether it will face any action after it footed the bill for one-to-one executive coaching for Deputy Chief Constable Adam Briggs between 2007 and 2009.

North Yorkshire Police Authority is looking into the procurement of the course, and examining whether it represented the kind of personal development training for which Mr Briggs already received a £10,000 annual payment in his salary.

A force spokesman said: “Regulating the terms and conditions of North Yorkshire’s chief police officers is a matter for North Yorkshire Police Authority.

“It is understood the police authority will shortly meet to consider these issues, which relate to a specific aspect of the arrangements in respect of Deputy Chief Constable Briggs. It would not be appropriate for the force to comment further at this time.”

Together with Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell, Mr Briggs is already the subject of an ongoing disciplinary case, and the authority will also analyse whether procurement rules were followed when the contract for the course was signed with training company Enabling Development, as well as whether the spending was properly authorised.

Although Mr Briggs has not commented, he is thought to have understood the training was related to his job and he was therefore not liable for its cost, as well as believing the procurement guidelines were followed over the course.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Constable is also set to appeal against a finding of “discreditable conduct” following an investigation into claims he unfairly helped a member of his family in their attempts to join North Yorkshire Police during a recruitment drive last year.