THE head of a crisis-hit force is to send his entire staff back to the classroom - to learn ethics.

Barry Shaw, Chief Constable of Cleveland Police, said he has taken the radical step in response to general concern about corruption in public life.

All 2,000 police and civilian staff will attend a one-day course in ethics at Teesside University.

In addition, every sergeant and inspector will be sent on a week-long course, and the most senior officers - including the Chief Constable himself - will he required to attend advanced courses.

For the past four years, the force has appeared in turmoil, with 61 officers facing nearly 400 criminal allegations arising out of the controversial anti-corruption probe Operation Lancet.

The force has reeled from a series of stinging rebukes from judges, a spate of pay-outs for civilian assaults by members of the force and the suspension and dismissal of several officers for various offences.

"We all, including myself, have to learn to challenge what we are doing" said Mr Shaw.

"The Lancet inquiry has underlined our awareness of the ethical dilemma which we face on a day to day basis.

"This is not really about Lancet, it is about general concern about corruption in public life.

Former Durham Detective Inspector Tony Dunnighan is now the director of the Centre for Police Research and Education at Teesside University and will oversee the course.

He said: "I certainly think a course like this would have been a major benefit to me when I was a police officer, and Cleveland deserves credit for grasping the nettle."

The cost of the course - which will be met by ratepayers - is being kept secret, but it is believed to top £100,000