A DECISION on whether to discipline a chief constable over his alleged treatment of a female police clerk is to be held behind closed doors.

Last night, MP Ashok Kumar attacked the secrecy surrounding the meeting and the critical report into Cleveland Police Chief Constable Barry Shaw.

It has also emerged there may now be a further investigation into the 18-month inquiry after the Police Complaints Authority expressed dissatisfaction.

The Northern Echo reported yesterday that Michael Hedges, the Chief Constable of South Yorkshire, had concluded that Mr Shaw "should be held culpable for abuse of authority and breach of confidence".

Mr Hedges had investigated allegations made by Jayne Thwaites, a police clerk from Hartlepool, that Mr Shaw had begun rumours that she was having an affair with Ray Mallon, the former detective superintendent turned Mayor of Middlesbrough.

Miss Thwaites claims the whispering campaign was designed to discredit Mr Mallon, then at the centre of the Operation Lancet police corruption probe.

Mr Hedges' report will be discussed on Friday in private by Cleveland Police Authority.

Mr Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough South, said: "These are very grave issues indeed, and it is crucial that authority members should not allow themselves to be browbeaten.

"This report should be published so we all understand the full consequences of the investigation."

But Coun Ken Walker, chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, said: "It really is a pity that Ashok should seek to jump on the bandwagon of trying to tell members of the police authority how they should vote.

"I can assure Ashok that every member of the authority will show independence of mind and we fully understand the seriousness of the issues and will consider all matters, including the Investigating Officer's report, the views of the Police Complaints Authority and the advice of our own officers.

"As someone who has served on a local authority, he should know full well the legislation which covers all authorities - including police authorities - when dealing with matters involving individual employees.

"That legislation requires us to consider those matters in private. I have made clear that, following our meeting, we will issue a statement explaining our decision and the reasons behind that decision."

In a separate development yesterday, Mr Hedges' report came under fire from the former deputy chairman of the Police Complaints Authority, Molly Meacher.

The Surveillance Commissioners - a Home Office body which oversees the authorisation of intrusive surveillance operations - may now launch its own inquiry.

Mrs Meacher said: "The Police Complaints Authority is not satisfied that the inferences and conclusions drawn by the investigating officer form a sound basis for further actions, and the Cleveland Police Authority will need to draw their own conclusions from the evidence."