SUSPENDED zero tolerance detective Ray Mallon last night challenged his accusers "to put up or shut up" after he was told five disciplinary allegations had been proved against him.

As expected, Detective Superintendent Mallon was officially charged on 14 counts yesterday by the Police Complaints Authority as part of the £5m Operation Lancet. But the PCA also said it had "substantiated" a further five allegations against him, including misconduct towards a member of a police force, improper disclosures to the media and disobeying orders.

The PCA said these new counts would be dealt with once the 14 charges had been heard, and that Det Supt Mallon would receive "strong advice" from a senior officer as a result.

However, Det Supt Mallon said he wanted to be tried on the new counts. He said: "The PCA has cheated because it has no right to submit what seem like very serious issues without me having opportunity to respond. This is simply the PCA exaggerating the case to justify a £5m, three-year long inquiry."

Dept Supt Mallon said that he had disobeyed orders which he considered unlawful. It is believed this relates to a request by former Assistant Chief Constable Robert Turnbull to surrender his diary.

The 14 charges include nine of neglecting duty, three of falsehood or prevarication, one of discreditable conduct and one of misconduct towards a member of a police force.

"Having examined the charges I am absolutely confident that, if I am given a fair hearing before a fair judge, I will be cleared of any wrongdoing," he said.

Cleveland Police will now choose a chief constable from another force to hear the charges. This will take at least four months.

Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate, an advisor to Home Secretary Jack Straw on law and order, welcomed the charges, saying the suspended officer could now put his side of the story.

Superintendent Graham Cummings, of the Cleveland branch of the Superintendents' Association, condemned the charges as they were not related to Lancet's aim of uncovering corruption.

Cleveland Police said: "It's not force policy to disclose information on individual cases."

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