'ZERO TOLERANCE' POLICE CHIEF FORCED OUT IN MISCONDUCT ROW

RAY MALLON, the detective credited with pioneering "zero tolerance" policing
in Britain, was required yesterday to resign after 27 years' service.

He admitted 14 disciplinary charges last week after being suspended for four
years on full pay from his £50,000-a-year superintendent's post with
Cleveland Police.

Mallon, 46, will retain his pension rights providing an income of about
£30,000 a year in four years' time if no lump sum is taken.

He will now be a candidate for Middlesbrough's first elected mayor in May,
something he could not have done as a serving police officer.

Barry Shaw, Cleveland's Chief Constable, refused to accept Mallon's
resignation in August until he had faced a disciplinary hearing. Contested
proceedings could not have been heard until July.

Mallon admitted nine offences of neglect of duty, three of falsehood and
prevarication, one of discreditable conduct and one of misconduct towards a
member of the police force.

They arose from Operation Lancet set up to look into allegations of
malpractice within Middlesbrough CID.

The claims included detectives supplying drugs in return for confessions,
tipping off suspects about planned raids and ill-discipline within the
department.

The independent Police Complaints Authority said yesterday that Mallon had
failed to act on information and reports alleging the most serious
misconduct by officers under his control.

A total of 393 allegations were investigated against 61 officers, but the
Crown Prosecution Service announced in June 2000 that no criminal charges
would be brought.

Disciplinary proceedings were brought by the force against Mallon and seven
others who are still to be dealt with.

Mallon's legal insurance ran out last summer and he represented himself when
he appeared before Paul Acres, Chief Constable of Hertfordshire, at a
hearing at Cleveland Police headquarters yesterday.

Ian Bynoe, deputy chairman of the complaints authority, said: "The public is
entitled to expect that when allegations are made that a police officer is
taking drugs and supplying them to prisoners in their custody, or has warned
a suspect about planned police action this will result in prompt, searching
and effective inquiry.

"The superintendent failed to deal properly and professionally with these
reports.

"The behaviour admitted by him, by an experienced senior manager and
detective officer, was wholly incompatible with the standards required of
even the most junior of police staff."

Mallon said after the hearing, at which he requested to be dismissed, that
he was finally "free" after making the force "an offer they couldn't
refuse".

He said: "I consider my name was cleared in June 2000 when I was cleared of
crime. I am confident that had I been allowed legal representation I would
have been cleared of all charges but I was totally focused on my aim of
standing as mayor.

"Mallon's high profile as a champion of the US-style "zero tolerance"
approach to policing earned him the nickname Robocop.

When he took over at Middlesbrough he pledged he would resign unless he cut
crime by 20 per cent in 18 months.

He achieved his target in half that time and his methods were praised by
successive home secretaries and by Tony Blair on the eve of the 1997 General
Election.

There were those within the force, however, who believed he was merely
conducting old-style confrontational policing and disliked his image which
included wearing sharp suits and braces.

Ken Walker, chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, said he was "extremely
disappointed" it had taken four-and-a-half years and millions of pounds for
Mallon to admit 14 charges at the 11th hour.

Chief Supt Phil Aspey, Deputy Secretary of the Superintendents' Association,
claimed Mallon has been been made a scapegoat.

He said: "It seems to us that Cleveland Police tried to wear Ray down at
every opportunity, always finding money to throw at the case.

"We entirely accept Ray's decision to plead guilty. This was the only option
available to him if he was to move on with his life."