A FINGERPRINT expert who won two victories for unfair dismissal against a North-East police force, yesterday lost her battle to win her old job back.

Gail Hunter, 33, hoped to be reinstated as team leader at the fingerprint bureau at Durham Police headquarters, in Durham City - despite previously blowing the whistle on alleged dodgy working practices.

But a remedy tribunal hearing in Newcastle said it did not agree with Ms Hunter's view that she could return to her old job without "serious difficulties".

The tribunal heard from Durham Chief Constable Paul Garvin, who said he was "absolutely amazed" that Ms Hunter had since found work as a fingerprint expert with Devon and Cornwall Police in view of her past disciplinary record.

Ms Hunter, who led a team responsible for evidence used by Cleveland Police, was initially sacked in July 1999 after admitting falsifying a date on a fingerprint continuity record. She later won her job back on appeal to Durham Police Authority, after claiming such practices were widespread - and went on to give evidence as a fingerprint expert to the Operation Lancet inquiry in Cleveland.

Ms Hunter, formerly of Consett, County Durham, accused staff in the bureau of bullying and sexual harassment, and in November 2000 was moved to a junior post as a filing clerk after describing the atmosphere as "intolerable".

She understood the move to be temporary, but when she saw her old post being re-advertised she took Durham police to a tribunal, claiming unfair dismissal, which she won after a three-week hearing, last year.

But Mr Garvin, who was called to give evidence, said staff had threatened to walk out if she came back.

He added: "To put it bluntly, if someone is prepared to fiddle a record, how can you rely on their evidence at other times.

"Fingerprint experts are key evidential players in court cases and if their integrity is found wanting then their viability as a witness is greatly compromised."

Tribunal chairman Tudor Garnon asked Durham Police to make efforts to identify another position elsewhere within the force that could be suitable for her and which she would be happy to undertake.

Ms Hunter, who had indicated that she would consider other jobs within the force at the same salary, could still receive compensation if the tribunal is unhappy with the police force's response.