A SENIOR police officer is due to face a disciplinary hearing this week into allegations she failed to challenge the 'sexual' behaviour of a colleague towards female staff members.

Superintendent Bev Gill was in a supervisory role within Cleveland Police's Professional Standards Department in 2015 when she allegedly failed to thoroughly investigate former Detective Inspector Simon Hurwood.

The senior officer is also accused of failing to declare her 'personal friendship' to the disgraced former detective during the investigation.

Mr Hurwood was found guilty of gross misconduct in November 2018 for targeting junior colleagues for sex, preying on 21 women over 14 years.

He resigned in September 2018 ahead of a disciplinary hearing. It had already been decided there was insufficient evidence to pursue a criminal prosecution

Supt Gill was suspended from her role while the investigated whether there had been 'potential missed opportunities' to investigate complaints against Mr Hurwood.

Another allegations she is facing is that "In May 2015 whilst performing the role of the Appropriate Authority, it is alleged that Supt Gill failed to divest herself from the involvement in a Gross Misconduct investigation despite personal associations with the accused.

"Furthermore that she used her status as the Appropriate Authority to undermine the investigation due to a personal friendship with one of the material witnesses and in doing so breached the following Standards of Professional Behaviour – Honesty and Integrity, Duties and Responsibilities: Authority, Respect and Courtesy, Challenging and Reporting Improper Conduct, and Discreditable Conduct."

Almost three years after her initial suspension she is facing a gross misconduct hearing which is scheduled to last for at least two weeks.

Supt Gill's suspension was lifted in 2019 and she is still a serving police officer.