A LEADING member of a North-East police authority quit last night in frustration at the "serious flaws" exposed by one of Britain's biggest anti-corruption inquiries.
Barry Foxton stood down as a member of the Cleveland Police Authority only weeks after the Home Secretary ordered a review of Operation Lancet.
Despite costing £7m, Lancet resulted in no prosecutions, prompting calls for a wholesale shake-up in police complaints procedures.
Last night, Mr Foxton declined to discuss his reasons for quitting the authority, but chairman Ken Walker acknowledged his concerns about flaws highlighted by the Lancet inquiry.
Mr Walker said he regretted Mr Foxton's decision to stand down.
And he added: "We all share his frustration over the serious flaws in the police complaints procedure highlighted during the Operation Lancet investigation.
"The very fact that the Government has decided to set up the review under retired chief constable Sir John Hoddinott underlines ministers' recognition of the problems."
Mr Walker said the review presented " a real opportunity to set out the concerns which he and other members of the authority have felt."
Mr Foxton is one of a handful of independents on the Labour-dominated authority.
Earlier this year, he expressed concern at plans to boost spending on police by six per cent.
He said at the time: "At the end of the day the force needs the support the enthusiastic support of the general public.
"You will not get it if the general public feels they are being screwed."
Post-Lancet, several officers are still suspended pending disciplinary hearings.
They include Detective Superintendent Ray Mallon, the pioneer of zero tolerance policing, who was investigated and cleared of behaviour that could be construed as criminal.
And Lancet is not the only inquiry to end in farce. Operation Dollar was set up to examine allegations made by Det Supt Mallon.
It was carried out by a team of officers drawn from three other forces and cost more than £326,000 in taxpayers' money. Detectives examined allegations of assault, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, falsehood, neglect of duty, improper disclosure of information, improper treatment of witnesses, incivility and discreditable conduct.
Most of the claims were levelled against three officers.
The Police Complaints Authority announced earlier this year that the team had found "insufficient evidence to justify formal disciplinary proceedings" against two of them. The other received a dressing down.
Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland Labour MP Ashok Kumar said last night: "I think Mr Foxton's resignation is proof positive that there is disquiet within the police authority about Lancet."
Read more about Operation Lancet here.
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