A SUSPENDED chief constable has spoken of his frustration and disappointment as an on-going criminal investigation keeps him sidelined from duty.

Cleveland Police’s Sean Price said last night parts of the inquiry into his conduct were unlawful.

He was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, fraud by abuse of position and corrupt practice in August following a series of dawn raids at addresses across the region.

Earlier this week, Mr Price, his deputy Derek Bonnard, and the force’s former solicitor, Caroline Llewellyn, were bailed until April next year as the investigation, which is costing the force in excess of £100,000 month, continues.

And yesterday, it emerged that a serving officer and a former officer had been arrested and bailed in connection with a completely separate investigation.

Speaking on Channel 4 news last night, Mr Price said he had raised concerns about the way documents relating to the inquiry had been seized.

He said he believed the reason he had been arrested was because he was seen as obstructing the inquiry which was “wrongminded and tragic”.

He added: “What I was trying to do was protect the inquiry, protect the police authority and protect myself because nobody wants to be part of an inquiry that is unlawfully acting.”

In a statement issued through his solicitor, Mr Price said: “I feel frustrated and disappointed. I was arrested during a raid on my house at 6am and detained overnight. My home, office and vehicles were searched.

“Since then, I have been on bail and suspended. During my 30 hours in detention, I was interviewed four times and answered every question put to me.

“At no time during those interviews or the ten weeks since have any criminal allegations been put to me. I reiterate the statement from the time of my arrest – I am entirely innocent of any crime.

“The reason my lawyers have been given for this delay is that further interviews and inquiries need to be carried out.

“I only wish that these inquiries, which I know will confirm my innocence, had been carried out before my highly-publicised arrest and detention.”

Operation Sacristy, led by Warwickshire’s Chief Constable Keith Bristow, is looking into a number of people with current or past associations with Cleveland Police Authority and the manner in which the authority may have conducted some of its business.

The suspended chief constable has made clear his part in starting the investigation in May last year.

He said that, following an initial investigation, he decided to bring in Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI) of Constabulary to oversee the probe and in July it was agreed to bring in North Yorkshire Police as an independent force to carry out the inquiry.

However, he raised concerns about the conduct of the inquiry with HMI Roger Baker and was told that the investigation was being handed over to the chief constable of Warwickshire Police, Mr Bristow, in April, and he continued to raise concerns until his arrest.

He added: “I know I speak not just for myself but also DCC Bonnard when I say we are extremely frustrated at having to sit at home when we should be back in our jobs.”

Police authority chairman Councillor Dave McLuckie stood down amid the probe and maintains he has done nothing wrong.

􀁧 In relation to the separate arrests, a Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: “We can confirm a serving police officer and a former police officer have been arrested and released on bail in relation to misappropriation of public funds.”