Mallon breaks his silence . . .

Although I protested my innocence from the day I was suspended, and always believed that I would be cleared of any wrong-doing, I welcome the decision by the Crown Prosecution Service that no criminal charges will be profferred against me, even though their decision was long overdue.

My wife and family have suffered no end as a result of my situation, and watching how they have reacted over the past two-and-a-half years has been particularly difficult.

Even though my wife, two daughters, mother and father, and in-laws, always believed in me, it was human nature for them to worry about the situation.

I should like to thank all of them for their support, which has been a great help to me over this difficult period.

I know that I will not be able to recapture the time which has been lost with my wife Carole and my daughters Victoria and Lois due to my suspension, with the fight to clear my name taking up much of my time.

There were many times when I was in my home but was elsewhere.

I suppose this is natural in the circumstances. Hopefully, in the not too distant future, our lives can be normal once again.

I would also like to thank the public and the rank and file police officers of Cleveland Police for their total support and their belief in me.

There is no doubt that both the public and the police of Cleveland have suffered as a result of the Lancet investigation and the effects that this has had on the morale of officers and also on front-line policing.

Their support was a real boost when some hours were darker than others.

I would also like to thank my solicitor, Mike Hymanson, who always believed in my innocence and has given me his time at all hours of the day and night.

I was fortunate to have a solicitor of such high calibre working to clear my name and ensure injustice did not occur.

I am extremely grateful to the MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, Ashok Kumar, who has strived to bring accountability to Operation Lancet, in particular, and Cleveland Police as a whole.

He refused to allow the executive officers of Cleveland Police to tap dance around the issues.

He was a lone voice in making representations on behalf of the public of Teesside - he refused to sit on the fence.

Ashok Kumar is without doubt a man of the people. He is a good Member of Parliament.

More importantly, he is a good man, who is prepared to fight for justice and the rights of individuals, even to his own cost.

I have a lot to thank Ashok Kumar for and my exoneration gives him the high ground because it vindicates all he has said and done over the past 18 months.

I should also like to thank my many close friends who have assisted me in the fight to clear my name.

All of those know who you are, but because most are serving police officers, I will not name you all publicly at this time.

But you all know I appreciate all that you have done for me.

I should also thank Chief Superintendent Terry Romeanes and Superintendent Peter Hughes, of the Superintendents' Association, for all the assistance and advice they have afforded me.

Terry Romeanes in particular was able to bring a calm head to the proceedings when I could be forgiven for thinking I was losing mine.

One of the saddest events during the past two-and-a-half years was the sudden death earlier this year of Chief Superintendent Dave Plester who, when chairman of the Cleveland Superintendents' Association during 1998, gave many Press interviews with regard to my suspension, and his support and wise counselling were extremely appreciated.

He is sadly missed by myself and my family.

Finally, I should thank John McPherson, who worked by my side at Middlesbrough.

He had no option but to retire from the force when he had such a great deal to offer.

His situation was particularly disgraceful and no doubt that particular event will be re-opened at the appropriate time.

Since my suspension, I have protested my innocence and I still believe than I should not have been suspended in the first place.

Robert Turnbull was wrong.

His behaviour prior to my suspension was an absolute disgrace and his behaviour afterwards was even worse.

There is an abundance of evidence to support my view, which will no doubt be made public in future.

To say that the Police Complaints Authority has been independent is farcical.

During the first 12 months of the Lancet investigation, a series of short investigations occurred into my expenses and my relationship with the media.

Now that I have been cleared of all criminal allegations, I believe the following to be relevant.

1 I am not the subject and never have been the subject of a corruption inquiry.

2 It has never been alleged that I took back-handers off anyone.

3 It has never been alleged that I took drugs or dealt in drugs. The criminal allegation against me was: Did I cover up the wrong-doing of other officers?

In effect, did I pervert the course of justice?

The answer is I did not, and this has been borne out by the decision of the CPS not to take any action against me.

Prior to my suspension, I was concerned at the treatment of officers under investigation.

Even police officers have the rights of criminals and that includes me.

I defended the rights of officers at Middlesbrough. I have no regrets and would do the same again.

During the first 21 months of the Lancet investigation I had grave concerns as to the direction and control of the investigation as a whole and the interference of the executive of Cleveland Police.

Fortunately, Andrew Timpson, the ex-Senior Investigating Officer, left the police service in September 1999, and was replaced by Lloyd Clarke, the Deputy Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police.

I believe that Mr Clarke has conducted the investigation with integrity and impartiality. I know that he will report the facts accurately.

I have no problem with Mr Clarke or the officers from West Yorkshire Police - if anything I was relieved when he was appointed as the Senior Investigating Officer in relation to this inquiry.

I should place on record my thanks to Mr Clarke and his officers for the professionalism they have shown during the investigation process.

In addition, I do believe I should place on public record my thanks to Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Barclay, of Northamptonshire Police and his team of officers who formed Operation Dollar.

This team were primarily responsible for investigating the contents of my first written statement which amounted to over 81,000 words.

I do not know the results of that investigation, but I do know that his officers investigated professionally and no doubt his findings had a bearing on the decision that no criminal charges should be preferred against me.

Barry Shaw is the Chief Constable of Cleveland Police.

I hold him entirely responsible for my present position.

My message to the Chief Constable is simple: Cleveland Police is far more important than Barry Shaw or Ray Mallon.

Mr Shaw should know, as I know, that there is no justification for my continued suspension from duty.

The force has suffered, the public has suffered, my family has suffered and both Barry Shaw and I have suffered.

Mr Shaw should now do the honourable thing and reinstate me immediately.

If he has a conscience and any compassion at all, he will do what I ask, as any impartial reader of the evidence for an against me will concluded without any difficulty that I have done nothing wrong.

My intention is to return to work for Cleveland Police. No matter what I will not walk away. I owe the public and the officers of the force a great deal, I do not intend to desert them.

When this whole situation is complete, I do believe that the Home Secretary should instigate a public inquiry, so that all the key players can be held to account for all of their actions.

I for one would not fear any such inquiry.

Ray Mallo