Two Senior UK Police Charged With Corruption

The Chief Constable of Cleveland Police in the U.K. and his Deputy were both arrested and suspended following investigations into corruption in Cleveland Police’s governing body. 

Sean Price and his deputy Derek Bonnard are two of three people charged with misconduct, fraud, abuse of position and corrupt practices.

An investigation by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary into corruption in Cleveland Police Authority began in May. The Authority chairman, Dave McLuckie, resigned citing pressure of the inquiry.

Former police lawyer Caroline Llewellyn, who recently took voluntary redundancy of a 225,000 pounds ($367,000), was the third arrestee.

These actions further damage the standing of British police after the resignations of two senior officers from the London Metropolitan Police two weeks ago concerning the News of the World phone hacking scandal.

The investigation is being conducted by Warwickshire Police with officers and staff from North Yorkshire Police. They have searched several premises in connection with the arrests.

They stressed that suspension does not intimate guilt.