A FORMER police chief who stepped down after being cleared of misconduct charges said she was “absolutely shocked” to learn senior officers treated her differently because she was a woman.

In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live Sue Sim, who retired in April as chief constable of Northumbria police, also questioned the motives of colleagues who made complaints against her.

Ms Sim - who led the force’s hunt for multiple killer Raoul Moat - referred to the independent investigation into her conduct and said one of the things it found was that senior male colleagues treated her differently than they would have done a male chief constable.

She said: “If they treat me as the chief constable differently than what they would a male colleague then what will they be doing with their more junior colleagues?

“I think we probably still have some way to go [in overcoming sexism].”

The inquiry criticised Ms Sim’s management style and recommended she apologised. She has now made a counter-complaint against the officers that accused her.

She said: “Yes I did shout when things weren’t going well…but I had an expectation that everyone worked as hard as they could for the public we served.”

Ms Sim, who was in charge of Northumbria Police for five years, conceded that some parts of policing were still rather old fashioned.

“Some senior officers believe they have a right to achieve a certain role in an organisation and then retire from that role.

“My view as chief constable always was if you're performing extremely well, that's fine. If you're not, I'm going to move you."

Labour MP Chi Onwurah, who represents Newcastle Central, said sexism, whether implied or explicit, undoubtedly played a part in the gender pay gap and a lack of women in public life.

She told The Northern Echo: “It is important Northumbria Police address Ms Sim’s comments on sexism within the force honestly and openly and for them to say they do not accept such criticism is not enough.

“I hope the new chief constable will work to ensure a policing culture which represents and celebrates gender balance and diversity.”

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said it was in correspondence with Ms Sim over the concerns she had raised.

He said: "It is disappointing and a real shame that Mrs Sim has chosen to express these views and to do so in this way.

“We do not accept the criticism that she has directed at Northumbria Police. Our priority is to move forward and deliver the best service we can to our communities and make the organisation one which we can all be proud of. It is to these ends that our efforts and energies are directed."