A FORMER deputy chief constable has accused a police and crime commissioner (PCC) of “political posturing” after being asked to repay tens of thousands of pounds to his force.

A review of payments received by former chief constable of North Yorkshire Police Grahame Maxwell and his deputy, Adam Briggs, found last month that £99,866 given to them in good faith “did not appear with hindsight to have been within the legal power of the police authority".

The commissioner's predecessor, North Yorkshire Police Authority, a statutory body of 17 people who were responsible for ensuring the county received an efficient police service, had powers to approve payments of additional benefits to senior officers.

Ahead of North Yorkshire PCC Julia Mulligan publishing a report today (Friday, December 20) over allowance packages paid to chief police officers in the past six financial years, Mr Briggs said it had concluded he had acted in good faith.

He said he wanted to set the record straight following the claims that he received money he was not entitled to.

Mr Briggs said he never negotiated his terms and conditions after being offered the senior role in 2007 and had been stunned to learn Mrs Mulligan was investigating the payments and to be asked to repay the allowances the force had drawn up when he was appointed.

Mr Briggs said: “I am pleased, though not surprised, to learn the review has concluded I acted in good faith throughout and that the PCC has accepted advice to drop this action.

“It seems incredulous to me that a PCC could have ever believed that a police force, or any responsible employer, could appoint someone on clearly laid out terms and conditions and then six years later try to renege on the agreement.

“I was disappointed that the PCC deployed this issue heavily into the public arena via the media and I can, but speculate as to why she did this.”

Despite the report’s findings, Mr Briggs, who retired after 31 years police service in 2011, said Mrs Mulligan had warned she would continue to ask him to return the money.

“It is clear to me that the political posturing characterised by this sad episode will not end.”

The unprecedented announcement follows the Independent Police Complaints Commission launching an inquiry over Durham's police and crime commissioner Ron Hogg being given his £21,000 car when he retired as deputy chief constable of Cleveland.