CLEVELAND Police's Chief Constable Sean Price has been dismissed after being found to have committed gross misconduct following an Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation.

A disciplinary hearing convened by Cleveland Police Authority found it proven that Mr Price had asked a member of staff to enquire about a job for an individual, had denied doing so when investigated by the IPCC and had then directed the member of staff to lie to the IPCC about the matter in an attempt to mislead the investigation.

The panel decided the proven matters individually and collectively amounted to gross misconduct and recommended to Cleveland Police Authority that Mr Price be dismissed with immediate effect.

The panel found it not proven that Mr Price had directed that a job be found for an individual.

IPCC Commissioner Nicholas Long said: "Sean Price's attempts to mislead the IPCC investigation by lying and putting pressure on a member of staff to lie on his behalf were shameful.

"He almost got away with his attempted deception. However the member of staff in question showed great integrity and courage in refusing to be bullied and stood up to him by asking to submit a new witness statement to the IPCC fully explaining Mr Price's role in this matter.

"Mr Price appeared to think his position as Chief Constable gave him the power to order people to do as he wished.

"A Chief Constable must set the standards for the police force to follow.

"Sean Price appears to have forgotten this and he set his own standards which fell far below those that would be expected.

"He has attempted to intimidate and bully staff under his leadership and mislead an independent investigation.

"He has failed at that - and most significantly he has failed the police officers and staff he led, the police service as a whole and the public of Cleveland."