Former West Yorkshire cop at centre of recruitment inquiry

TWO former Huddersfield police officers are being investigated over a recruitment exercise.

North Yorkshire’s chief constable Graham Maxwell and his deputy Adam Briggs are being investigated over allegations they helped relatives during a police recruitment exercise.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission said the claims involve Mr Maxwell, Mr Briggs and two other police staff.

Last month the force held a jobs drive in which 200,000 people called about 60 posts.

The commission said the allegations were “extremely concerning”.

The Commission said the police officer recruitment exercise, which ran from February 8 to 12, “encountered technical difficulties on the first two nights with consequent frustrations for many potential applicants”.

An IPCC spokesman said: “It is alleged the Chief Constable, Grahame Maxwell, gave assistance to one of his own relatives and a relative of Deputy Chief Constable Adam Briggs.

“It is also alleged DCC Briggs gave assistance to that same relative.

“Additionally, and separately, two police staff members are alleged to have used their positions to circumvent the initial phase to benefit themselves and one other person.”

The commission said an investigation is being conducted by Chief Constable Mike Cunningham from Staffordshire Police into the claims against the two senior officers.

North Yorkshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Sue Cross said: “North Yorkshire Police will fully co-operate with the IPCC investigations into the allegations against members of North Yorkshire Police. Indeed, the Police Authority, in conjunction with North Yorkshire Police, made a voluntary referral of the matters to the IPCC at an early stage.”