THE former head of North Yorkshire Police has said it is will be very difficult for under-fire Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell to continue in his post.

Della Cannings was speaking as Mr Maxwell vowed to remain in charge of the force, despite being handed a final written warning for trying to help a family member get a job.

Mr Maxwell, 50, admitted gross misconduct, but is attempting to put the matter behind him, saying it was "business as usual".

Ms Canning, herself no stranger to controversy while Chief Constable, said tonight: "It becomes unviable, I think, to continue. The discipline of the force, the discipline of the staff and the confidence of the public have got to be paramount.

"You have to have trust in the senior officers, you have to have trust in those that are organising policing, as does the public, and it does rattle that completely.

"It also brings the police into disrespect, there is a certain bar over which if something has happened it is then totally unacceptable and people need to fall on their sword for that."

Ms Cannings said she did not know whether Mr Maxwell would rethink his position.

"My crystal ball doesnt work that well," she said. "It is a matter for Grahame and his conscience and those that are close to him."