'ZERO TOLERANCE' POLICE CHIEF IS TAKEN OFF DUTIES
By Paul Stokes

A SENIOR detective whose "zero tolerance" approach to crime earned praise
from the Prime Minister was suspended from duty yesterday during an
investigation into the running of his department.

Det Supt Ray Mallon, 43, head of Middlesbrough CID, is being investigated
over allegations relating to the leaking of information and possible
criminal conduct.

Two of his officers were suspended in October as part of an inquiry into
corruption, codenamed Lancet, over claims that heroin had been supplied to
prisoners in exchange for confessions.

Robert Turnbull, Cleveland Constabulary's Assistant Chief Constable
(designate) said yesterday: "As a result of information which has come to
my notice I have found it necessary to suspend Mr Mallon from duty arising
from allegations which relate to the disclosure of information of a
confidential nature about the current investigation to a third party.

"Another allegation relates to activity which could be construed as
criminal conduct. As this investigation is still under way it would be
inappropriate for me and anyone else from the force to make further
comment." He declined to identify the "third party" or say whether this
person was a serving police officer.

The Police Complaints Authority is supervising Operation Lancet, which was
led by Det Chief Supt Kevin Pitt, head of Cleveland CID.

As a result of Det Supt Mallon's suspension it was felt appropriate to
appoint an officer from an outside force, Andrew Timpson,
Northamptonshire's Assistant Chief Constable, to oversee the inquiry. Mr
Turnbull told a news conference: "Both myself and the PCA continue to have
the utmost faith in the integrity and professionalism of Kevin Pitt. Det
Chief Supt Pitt will continue to assist Mr Timpson."

A 16strong inquiry team of Cleveland officers is involved in the ongoing
investigation into Middlesbrough CID.

Tony Williams, a member of the PCA, said: "I would ask anyone, whether they
be a member of the public or criminal fraternity, who can assist this
inquiry to come forward.

"I would like to make something very clear, we are investigating serious
criminal and disciplinary issues. Both the force and the PCA will take an
extremely serious view of any attempt to interfere with this inquiry or to
obstruct it in any way."

Mr Mallon, married with two children is a nonsmoking, nondrinking, former
British water polo international.

He has been praised by Tony Blair, Jack Straw, the Home Secretary, and was
also praised by Mr Straw's predecessor, Michael Howard, for cutting crime
dramatically in his area.

When Detective Constables Sean Allen and Brendan Whitehead, both 30, were
suspended in late October he made a public statement telling criminals that
it was "business as usual".

He said: "If Middlesbrough CID was a football team it would be top of the
Premier League. Yes, morale has dipped slightly because of the events of
the last week but we will bounce back."

The Crown Prosecution Service is currently reviewing every case Whitehead
and Allen have been involved in for the past 12 months. Mr Mallon attracted
national publicity when he took over the department less than a year ago
and vowed to resign if he failed to cut crime by 20 per cent in 18 months.

Repeated stopchecks and regular use of CS spray let criminals know the
police meant business and in the past nine months crime has been cut by one
quarter. Mr Mallon said recently: "We have reduced crime in the last nine
months by 25 per cent. That is 6,500 fewer victims of crime every month.
That is what the workforce as a whole has achieved and it is what the
public expects." He was appointed head of the Middlesbrough CID in November
last year after introducing his proactive policing techniques to Hartlepool.

Mr Mallon said last night that he had not done anything wrong and insisted
he had nothing to fear from the inquiry. "I am very calm, cool and
collected about all of this because I always say that when you tell the
truth and stay within the rules you have nothing to worry about. I have
nothing to worry about," he told BBC1's Six O'Clock News.

His solicitor, Andrew Brook, said the allegations against him had nothing
to do with any dealings with criminals.