Extraordinary twists and turns of the Mallon affair

January 8, 1997 . . . His confrontational style of polic-ing, known as Zero Tolerance, wins the backing of Labour leader Tony Blair.

March 31, 1997 . . . No better example of his tough style is shown when he spots two men trying to steal his car, chases them across fields and arrests them.

August 6, 1997 . . . NINE months into the job and his pledge to cut crime appears to be working as figures plummet towards the key 20 per cent mark.

October 27, 1997 . . . The first hint of trouble in the force emerges when a court case collapses because evidence has come from a suspended officer.

December 1, 1997 . . . DETECTIVE Superintendent Mallon is suspended by Ass-istant Chief Constable Robert Turnbull, the force's disciplin-ary officer. He vows to clear his name after allegations he leaked information about a police corruption investigat-ion - Operation Lancet - and engaged in alleged activities which could be construed as criminal conduct.

December 6, 1997 . . . Supporters launch a petition demanding Det Supt Mallon's reinstatement.

December 8, 1997 . . . Det Supt Mallon clears his desk.

December 10, 1997 . . . He is replaced by Superintendent Adrian Roberts.

December 12, 1997 . . . DETECTIVE Sergeant John McPherson, 51, Det Supt Mallon's right-hand man, is transferred to uniform.

February 3, 1998 . . . A 30,000-name petition demand-ing the reinstatement of Det Supt Mallon is handed to the Home Office.

February 5, 1998 . . . A detective is arrested over theft allegations following an internal investigation into alleged thefts from Middles-brough police station's stolen property store. The same day, another detective is suspend-ed without pay after quitting his job for a new life in Australia, without telling his bosses.

February 7, 1998 . . . Police question journalists working for The Northern Echo as part of their invest-igation into internal corrupt-ion claims.

February 23, 1998 . . . Home Secretary Jack Straw pledges his continuing sup-port for Zero Tolerance, but he says he cannot intervene on Det Supt Mallon's behalf.

March 12, 1998 . . . Cleveland Police launches a new inquiry into Det Supt Mallon over his expenses and movements since his suspension on December 1.

March 25, 1998 . . . Cleveland Police is rocked when a man wins £1,400 after being assaulted by officers.

April 3, 1998 . . . Det Sgt John McPherson is exonerat-ed after an investigation into allegations against him of improper conduct.

April 16, 1998 . . . A vote of no-confidence is passed in Cleveland's Chief Constable Barry Shaw over his handling of the Mallon saga, at a packed public meeting in Middles-brough.

September 25, 1998 . . . Files about the Teesside police officers being investi-gated in the anti-corruption inquiry are passed to criminal lawyers.

November 24, 1998 . . . The investigation takes a dramatic twist when Det Supt Mallon is cleared of fiddling his expenses.

December 1, 1998 . . . Police reveal the full list of accusations facing Det Supt Mallon after questioning him for the first time. Allegations include: conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and related matters; suppressing evidence; failing to conduct appropriate inquiries; dis-obeying the orders of senior police officers; acting in an oppressive manner to junior officers.

December 12, 1998 . . . Jack Straw again refuses to intervene.

January 26, 1999 . . . The man who suspended Det Supt Ray Mallon announces his retirement. Assistant Chief Constable of Cleveland, Robert Turnbull, has served just 19 months of a five-year contract with the Cleveland force.

February 19, 1999 . . . Two detectives are charged with stealing from a police station. One, 39-year-old Det Insp Russ Daglish, is suspended. The other is Brendon Whitehead.

April 15, 1999 . . . It is revealed that Robert Turnbull is to become deputy commiss-ioner of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands police.

April 16, 1999 . . . Hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money is wasted after senior officers at Cleveland Police libel three of their uniformed men.

April 20, 1999 . . . Det Supt Mallon is cleared of wrong-doing in his relationship with the media.

July 9, 1999 . . . Calls are made for the police corruption inquiry to be wound up after it is revealed that some of the investigating officers are under investigation them-selves. Officers from two outside forces are brought in to look into the alleged activities of a small number of Teesside detectives on the Operation Lancet team. Ashok Kumar, MP for South Middlesbrough and East Cleveland, says the situation is turning into farce with public credibility in Cleveland Police now seriously at risk.

September 14, 1999 . . . Allegations are made against the man heading the Lancet investigation. Andrew Timpson, Chief Constable of Warwickshire, goes on sick leave. However, the investig-ation into Mr Timpson is said to be unconnected with Operation Lancet. Mr Timpson is replaced on the Lancet inquiry by Lloyd Clarke, Deputy Chief Constable of West Yorkshire.

November 4, 1999 . . . Richard Brunstrom, assistant Chief Constable with Cleveland Police, quits and moves to North Wales Police.

December 1, 1999 . . . Det Supt Mallon marks the second anniversary of his suspension with a scathing attack on the Police Complaints Authority which, he claims, smeared him. He predicts the investigation will end without criminal charges being laid against him, and he calls on Jack Straw to instigate a public inquiry so that the main players can be called to account.

February 10, 2000 . . . Det Supt Mallon acknowledges that he may never be allowed to return to policing, even if he is cleared of any criminal wrongdoing. Andrew Timpson retires.

March 6, 2000 . . . Cleveland's acting Deputy Chief Constable David Earnshaw retires while he is the subject of a Police Complaints Authority invest-igation.

March 14, 2000 . . . A decision on whether the first police officers were to be prosecuted as part of Operation Lancet was to be announced later this month. But Solicitor General Ross Cranston warned that further files relating to the inquiry have yet to be considered.

April 1, 2000 . . . It is announced that there are no grounds for disciplinary action against Cleveland's Acting Deputy Chief Constable David Earnshaw.

June 13, 2000 . . . Public inquiry demanded into Operation Lancet by MP Ashok Kumar amid fears the cost of the probe have run to nearly £5m.

June 15, 2000 . . . MP Dari Taylor, member for Stockton South, claims Cleveland Police is losing public support.

June 20, 2000 . . . Crown Prosecution Service announces there will be no prosecution of Det Supt Mallon as there is insufficient evidence.

June 23, 2000 . . . Det Supt Mallon challenges his bosses to reinstate him.

June 24, 2000 . . . Chief Constable Barry Shaw faces calls to quit after a judge says a "catalogue of errors" turned an inquiry into the alleged police theft of a £20 boiler into a £500,000 farce. Judges Henriques was so angered by the collapse of the case against Det Insp Russ Daglish and Det Con Whitehead that he ordered Chief Supt Kevin Pitt to appear before him.

July 18, 2000 . . . Chief Supt Kevin Pitt becomes the fifth senior Lancet officer not to see the corruption inquiry through.

August 8, 2000 . . . Det Supt Mallon makes a formal complaint to the Home Secretary that senior officers have conspired to pervert the course of justice. He asks solicitors to write to Jack Straw alleging the conspiracy against him. Members of Det Supt Mallon's legal team say they have compiled evidence to back the claims.

September 12, 2000 . . . Cleveland Police are accused of "scraping the barrel" to find 14 disciplinary charges against Det Supt Mallon. The Police Complaints Authority reveals it will charge Det Supt Mallon with 14 unspecified offences later in the week.

December 5, 2000 . . . The Crown Prosecution Service says "there is insufficient evidence" to bring a prosecution against ex-assistant Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom.

December 22, 2000 . . . The CPS reveals there will be no criminal charges arising from Operation Dollar, an investigation into Cleveland Police by West Yorkshire Police, into allegations made by Det Supt Mallon.

February 13, 2001 . . . Barry Shaw hints that the inquiry will end with all 393 criminal allegations being thrown out.

February 22, 2001 . . . Official confirmation is given that Operation Lancet is over and no charges are to be brought.

March 30, 2001 . . . The first of the officers suspended as part of the controversial Operation Lancet investigat-ion return to work.

March 31, 2001 . . . CALLS for a Home Office inquiry into Operation Lancet are growing following a £1.9m Government donation to help meet mounting costs.

April 4, 2001 . . . THE former chief constable who headed Britain's biggest corruption investigation 30 years ago is asked to lead a Home Office investigation into the inquiry. Sir John Hoddinott - dubbed "Untouchable" by fellow offic-ers for rooting out corruption - was chosen by Jack Straw.

April 7, 2001 . . . Operation Dollar, set up to examine allegations made by Det Supt Mallon, ends with just one officer facing a disciplinary hearing.

June 7, 2001 . . . The Cleveland officer whose allegations triggered the suspension of Det Supt Mallon is dismissed. Det Insp Russ Daglish, together with Det Con Brendon Whitehead, was sacked following a disciplin-ary hearing.

June 29, 2001 . . . Det Supt Mallon is described as "a prisoner of the police complaints system" as it becomes obvious he will not be returning to work until the disciplinary hearing.

July 10, 2001 . . . A LEADING member of Cleveland Police Authority quits in frustration at the "serious flaws" exposed by one of Britain's biggest anti-corruption inquiries. Barry Foxton stands down only weeks after the Home Secretary ordered a review of Operation Lancet.

July 11, 2001 . . . Police Complaints Authority warns its report on Lancet may be delayed for fear of prejudicing future hearings.

July 13, 2001 . . . Cleveland Police Authority suggests the Government introduces new powers to prevent criticism of long running anti-corruption inquiries.

August 10, 2001 . . . Ray Mallon announces his intention to quit and seek election as Mayor of Middlesbrough.

August 17, 2001 . . . Det Supt Mallon is told he cannot quit until the disciplinary hearing is finished.

September 22, 2001 . . . A ninth officer is to face disciplinary charges as a result of Lancet.

September 28, 2001 . . . A new man is appointed to head the Operation Lancet Home Office inquiry. Former Chief Inspector Bill Taylor takes over after Sir John Hoddinott is found dead in his hotel room.

October 22, 2001 . . . Det Supt Mallon disciplinary hearing begins.

December 20, 2001 . . . Det Supt Mallon voices fears the hearing may prevent him from standing as Mayor.

January 3, 2002 . . . Det Supt Mallon is named Man of the Year 2001 by listeners of Radio Cleveland

Februar7 6, 2002 . . . Det Supt Mallon announces he is to plead guilty to disciplinary charges so he can be free of Cleveland Police.

February 12, 2002 . . . MR Mallon walks away from his police career - but the bitterness and recriminations are far from over