Suspended top police officer makes sex discrimination claim against Cleveland Police

6:39pm Monday 11th March 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Graeme Hetherington

Derek Bonnard Derek Bonnard

A SUSPENDED police officer is taking his force to an employment tribunal claiming he was overlooked for the top job despite facing allegations of gross misconduct.

Derek Bonnard is believed to have submitted the claim maintaining that it was sexual discrimination that stopped him getting the Chief Constable post at Cleveland Police.

The 50-year-old has been suspended from duty since August 2011 when he was arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into corruption at the force and some people associated with the former Cleveland Police Authority.

The Deputy Chief Constable’s disciplinary hearing got underway today (Monday, March 11) after he was unsuccessful in having the case adjourned during legal argument last week.

Mr Bonnard is facing seven gross misconduct charges during the disciplinary hearing, which is being chaired by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Police.

So far the cost of the disciplinary hearings involving former Chief Constable Sean Price and Mr Bonnard is estimated to be around £500,000.

The ongoing criminal investigation, Operation Sacristy, has so far cost the taxpayer £3m, most of which is being covered by the government.

The latest revelation to involve the force has seen Mr Bonnard submit papers at an employment tribunal in Newcastle after Jacqui Cheer was appointed in February after spending 18 months as the force's temporary chief constable.

When, the decision was made to appoint Mrs Cheer, who had impressed the new Police and Crime Commissioner, Barry Coppinger, it was revealed that she was the only person to formally apply for the £140,000-a-year post.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman confirmed that Mr Bonnard had submitted his claim.

She said: “We can confirm papers have been lodged by Mr Bonnard regarding an Employment Tribunal. The Force intends to defend this matter robustly.”

Mr Bonnard, who was unavailable for comment, was arrested along with the force's former chief constable Sean Price, in August 2011.

Mr Price was sacked after he was found guilty of gross misconduct at a separate hearing last year.

He remains on bail as Operation Sacristy - a wide-ranging investigation into alleged corruption at Cleveland Police - continues.

Mr Bonnard has been released from bail and told he will not face criminal charges.

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Comments (7)

7:36pm Mon 11 Mar 13

NO EINSTEIN says...

Iv checked the calendar and its not April the 1st.
Is this chap for real or what.
Iv heard William Hill have offered odds of 1000/1 re him not winning his case (allegedly).
I can only assume this is a publicity stunt, but i'm not sure as to what gain ??
Iv checked the calendar and its not April the 1st. Is this chap for real or what. Iv heard William Hill have offered odds of 1000/1 re him not winning his case (allegedly). I can only assume this is a publicity stunt, but i'm not sure as to what gain ?? NO EINSTEIN

7:56pm Mon 11 Mar 13

glyn says...

Let him have his day in court then send him the bill if? he does not win his case. In fact send him the whole blooming bill
Let him have his day in court then send him the bill if? he does not win his case. In fact send him the whole blooming bill glyn

10:38am Tue 12 Mar 13

st-george1 says...

Just one more embarrassing moment for the people of Cleveland, going from the sublime to the ridiculous it seems with regards to fit and proper people and all that … as 2nd in command of the NOW disgraced Cleveland Police Force still facing allegations of gross misconduct and now claiming he was overlooked for the top job, it was revealed that Mrs Cheer was THE ONLY PERSON TO FORMALLY APPLY for the post … so with no other applicants why does HE insist on pointing the finger-of-discrimina
tion at the new PCC !
Just one more embarrassing moment for the people of Cleveland, going from the sublime to the ridiculous it seems with regards to fit and proper people and all that … as 2nd in command of the NOW disgraced Cleveland Police Force still facing allegations of gross misconduct and now claiming he was overlooked for the top job, it was revealed that Mrs Cheer was THE ONLY PERSON TO FORMALLY APPLY for the post … so with no other applicants why does HE insist on pointing the finger-of-discrimina tion at the new PCC ! st-george1

11:24am Tue 12 Mar 13

behonest says...

And is it really sex discrimination, if the successful applicant looks like a bloke?
And is it really sex discrimination, if the successful applicant looks like a bloke? behonest

3:03pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Insp Clouseau says...

You couldn't make it up could you.
The book which started the questions about who got what in the north east forces hit the shops in 2010, and is very accurate.
Try googling "The Life & Times of Sleepy Hollow, by PC North"
There's a clue in the authors name.

More fact than fiction about the smoggy force and the gravy train.

Is Mr Bonnard still driving his company car. Its a £50,000 BMW X6 4x4 that is a perk of being suspended for over a year. Why give him a force car while sat at home?
Sacristy have only scraped the surface when it comes to who gave out contracts in all 3 forces in the north east.
You couldn't make it up could you. The book which started the questions about who got what in the north east forces hit the shops in 2010, and is very accurate. Try googling "The Life & Times of Sleepy Hollow, by PC North" There's a clue in the authors name. More fact than fiction about the smoggy force and the gravy train. Is Mr Bonnard still driving his company car. Its a £50,000 BMW X6 4x4 that is a perk of being suspended for over a year. Why give him a force car while sat at home? Sacristy have only scraped the surface when it comes to who gave out contracts in all 3 forces in the north east. Insp Clouseau

8:02pm Tue 12 Mar 13

spragger says...

Cleveland Police again ..
What with Sacristy, etc they have more going on in house than the whole of the Criminal fraternity in the NE of England.
Add in the Coroner an Teesside has the worst public sector services in England, full of useless corrupt people
Cleveland Police again .. What with Sacristy, etc they have more going on in house than the whole of the Criminal fraternity in the NE of England. Add in the Coroner an Teesside has the worst public sector services in England, full of useless corrupt people spragger

6:45am Wed 13 Mar 13

for30001 says...

I agree with Mr Bonnard, given the conduct of the force, he is clearly the best man for the job. Urgently, reinstate him and Sean. They have both been harshly treated for allegedly feathering their own nests.
I agree with Mr Bonnard, given the conduct of the force, he is clearly the best man for the job. Urgently, reinstate him and Sean. They have both been harshly treated for allegedly feathering their own nests. for30001

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