A POLICE employee was bullied and intimidated at work, an employment tribunal has heard.

In her job as a civilian in the Central Crimes Bureau (CCB) Susan Francis said that she was victimised by certain colleagues over a two year period from 2005 to 2007.

Claiming constructive dismissal against Cleveland Police, Mrs Francis said she was targeted by some of the people she worked with at the forces headquarters on Ladgate Lane in Middlesbrough.

She said that shift patterns were changed without her knowledge and certain colleagues laughed behind her back, intentionally increased her workload and spoke in a coded language in front of her.

Mrs Francis, 48, from Ingleby Barwick in Stockton, read from her witness statement on the first day of the employment tribunal today, held at Christine House in Thornaby where she is being represented by her husband, Joseph Francis.

She said: "I was left to work alone while they laughed behind my back, excluded me and used intimidating behaviour."

Mrs Francis said that a depletion of staff who were not replaced and changing shift patterns had a serious impact.

Due to the restraints we were working under crimes were going unrecorded in their hundreds, she said.

The hearing, which is expected to last for 10 days, continues.