COMMISSIONER Nicholas Long praised staff at North Yorkshire Police for standing up to their bosses and showing “selflessness and integrity”.

After an anonymous tip-off, Assistant Chief Constable Sue Cross told Mr Maxwell that if he did not tell the North Yorkshire Police Authority what had happened, she would.

Mr Long said: “I praise the courage of senior officers and staff within North Yorkshire Police who decided to make a stand and challenge Mr Maxwell and DCC Briggs over their actions. They recognised the seriousness of what the two officers had done and acted in a manner that reflected the highest standards of selflessness and integrity. The past 15 months must have been exceptionally hard for them.”