A CHIEF Constable will have to undergo training after admitting telling conflicting stories about how he broke a work mobile phone.

Cleveland Chief Constable Mike Veale told colleagues that he had dropped his golf bag and it was inadvertently run over but he later confessed to hitting his bag with a golf club after a particularly poor shot.

The senior officer, who was working at Wiltshire Police at the time of the incident, was cleared of deliberately smashing up the phone to destroy evidence connected to an investigation into Sir Edward Heath following an investigation.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct found the evidence supported that the damage occurred on Saturday, September 23 last year during a regular round of golf with friends, which was interspersed with Mr Veale taking a number of phone calls concerning media interest in Operation Conifer.

Their investigation found no evidence that the irreparable damage to the phone had been caused deliberately or with the motive to conceal any information, and Mr Veale was considered to have no case to answer for discreditable conduct.

As a result of the investigation it has been agreed that Chief Constable Veale will be subject to a management action plan put in place by Cleveland’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Barry Coppinger, including an ongoing programme of professional development.

IOPC director Catrin Evans, who oversaw the investigation, said: “The evidence gathered points to Chief Constable Veale damaging his mobile phone entirely by accident. He then arranged for all data from the damaged phone to be retrieved, and we found no evidence to suggest he was motivated to conceal information. Mr Veale volunteered to our investigators that he was embarrassed by his behaviour over a momentary loss of self-control on the golf course, at a time of personal and professional stress.

“However, chief constables are expected to promote ethical values, lead by personal example and act as ambassadors for the standards of professional behaviour. That Mr Veale chose to give a different account to the truth, both verbally and in writing on several occasions and for some time, in our view amounted to a case to answer for misconduct relating to honesty and integrity.”

Mr Veale always denied that he smashed the mobile phone to hide evidence of sharing confidential information but accepted that he told differing stories to hide his embarrassment.

He said: “From the very outset of the IOPC investigation I informed Investigators that my mobile phone was damaged in an unforeseen accident while I was playing golf. Out of character for me I hit my golf club into my golf bag after a particularly poor shot and inadvertently damaged the mobile phone. I also informed the IOPC that I told a few of my colleagues at the time that the damage to my mobile phone was caused accidentally in a car park.

“I am clear and always have been about why I gave a different account to some colleagues about the accidental damage to my phone. It was to avoid more unnecessary media attention and to spare my own obvious embarrassment for damaging my phone in such a ridiculous way and most importantly to ensure my colleagues were not aware of the pressure I was feeling at a time when I needed to be strong.

“During the course of this investigation I have had the opportunity to reflect on my actions. The account I gave to some colleagues should not have been given. My reasons were clear to me then and are now.

"I wanted to avoid unnecessary, sensationalist coverage in the media. I regret that I gave any account at all as to why the damage was caused as there was no reason to do so as this was simple an accident.

"This was a mistake and I could have handled it differently. With the benefit of hindsight I agree with Cleveland PCC Barry Coppinger that I could have acted differently. I want to take this opportunity to apologise for not handling this matter differently.”