THE police authority chairman who oversees Britain's most controversial force could find himself ousted in a crucial vote tonight.

If Councillor Ken Walker fails to secure his party's nomination to Cleveland Police Authority it will mark the end of an era that has left a North-East force staring into the financial abyss.

Coun Walker goes into the Labour Group AGM at Middlesbrough Town Hall this evening needing the support of fellow members if he is to be reappointed.

Middlesbrough Council nominates three members to the police authority - the force's governing body - every year, two Labour members and an Independent.

Coun Walker has always won enough support to guarantee his re-election - even during the darkest days of the Operation Lancet corruption inquiry.

But the discovery of a £7.3m financial deficit in the force accounts earlier this year and a row with Chief Constable Sean Price have left him fighting for his political life.

Coun Walker has already quit the authority once this year. He walked out in March leaving deputy chairman Ted Cox temporarily in charge after a row over a statement he wanted the chief constable to read out.

Although Coun Walker has since resumed control, even former supporters last night conceded it was time for him to go.

Frank Cook, MP for Stockton North, said: "It's a shame for anyone to depart after what has been a very long period of service.

"But he reacted to the latest upset by saying he wanted to resign in order to contest the issue, then return as chairman. That smacked a bit of desperation.

"I hope Ken will be able to pick up other reins within the political harness, because his experience has been hard-won and is worth keeping on board."

During his time as chairman of the Police Authority:

* Eight officers, including Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon, were suspended for more than three years at a cost of more than £5m during Operation Lancet - Britain's longest-running police inquiry;

l Two detectives were reprimanded for taking a force minibus on at least a dozen booze cruises to Calais;

* In 1999, then Assistant Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom was slammed by a Teesside Crown Court judge for giving "disingenuous" evidence during a trial;

* The Government's police watchdog gave the force six months to sort itself out after a report revealed the service given to people on Teesside was "not acceptable";

* A drugs trial collapsed costing taxpayers as much as £20m.

But the final straw appears to have been the revelation of a £7.3m "black hole" in the force budget earlier this year.

The Audit Commission was called in to investigate and its draft report is expected to say the police authority was repeatedly warned that Cleveland's cash reserves of £200,000 were too low.

Chris Snowden, former chairman of the Middlesbrough South Labour Party, said last night: "My belief is that Ken Walker has no chance of getting the party nomination for the police authority."

Vera Baird, Labour MP for Redcar, said: "A person heading a body whose prime responsibility is stewardship of the police force that finds itself in a black hole of £7.3 million has not done his job properly. Ken Walker needs to be replaced."

Coun Walker could not be contacted for his comments yesterday.

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