3 Aug 2011

Cleveland police chief arrested over corruption

Warwickshire Police have arrested the Chief Constable of Cleveland, Sean Price, and his deputy Derek Bonnard in an investigation into allegation of misconduct, abuse of position and corrupt practice.

Price and Bonnard were arrested this morning by Warwickshire police and taken to a North Yorkshire station to be interviewed.

A woman, believed to be a member of Cleveland police staff, was also arrested on suspicion of the same offences and remains in custody.

In a statement Warwickshire Police said:

“Police officers conducting a criminal investigation into a number of people with current or past associations with Cleveland Police Authority and the manner in which the authority may have conducted some of its business have this morning arrested three people on suspicion of misconduct in a public office, fraud by abuse of position and corrupt practice.

“Two men and a woman were arrested and have been taken to a police station in North Yorkshire where they will be interviewed.

“A number of premises are being searched.”

Both Mr Price and Mr Bonnard have been suspended from their jobs but the Cleveland Police Authority said in a statement today:

Cleveland police chief Sean Price arrested over corruption

“It should be emphasised that suspension is a neutral act and it should not be inferred from the decision to suspend that the potential conduct matters have been proven in respect to the two chief officers concerned.” It added that “the authority has taken the decision to refer these matters to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.”

Criminal investigations began into the Cleveland Police Authority in May, led by the Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police, Keith Bristow, supported by senior officers from the North Yorkshire Police. The investigation into a wide-ranging corruption investigation started after allegations were made against past and former members of the Cleveland Police Authority.

Mr Price, who has been Chief Constable of Cleveland since March 2003, was paid over £200,000 according to the Cleveland Police Authority accounts for 2009/2010. This sum included an additional bonus of £24,000 after crime in Cleveland fell by 17.3 per cent. In his previous post as Deputy Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire he had special responsibility for Personnel, Professional Standards and Best Value.