THE fate of a beleaguered North-East chief constable could be decided behind closed doors today.

Cleveland Police Authority is meeting at Middlesbrough FC's Cellnet Stadium to consider a critical report into the conduct of Cleveland Chief Constable Barry Shaw.

The report, commissioned by the authority and compiled by South Yorkshire Chief Constable Michael Hedges, looked into claims of a dirty tricks campaign against former police chief Ray Mallon and Hartlepool police station desk clerk Jayne Thwaites.

It concludes with a recommendation that Mr Shaw should "be held culpable for abuse of power and breach of confidence".

Since this conclusion was leaked on Monday, there has been a storm of protest against the authority's decision to hold its meeting in private.

But authority chairman Councillor Ken Walker said yesterday: "It is easy for others to indulge in all sorts of tactics in advance of the meeting, from attempted smears and leaks against individuals and the force and authority as a whole, to posturing and making demands which simply cannot be met.

"I make it absolutely clear that I want to be as open as possible within the constraints which apply to this kind of situation."

Following criticism of the authority's stance on secrecy from Middlesbrough South MP Ashok Kumar, Teesside's other MPs closed ranks last night, all of them unavailable, or declining to comment.

But some of their constituents were more willing to speak. Joan McTigue, from North Ormesby, has formed a protest group and will be calling for more openness at this morning's meeting.