PUBLIC trust in the police has been on a downward curve for some time now. Unprovoked violence against a helpless pedestrian, and inertia in the face of vandalism are just two recent events by the boys in blue.

After the public disgrace of his number two, we now have the chief constable of North Yorkshire rebuked over his “disreputable misconduct”.

The tribunal at his disciplinary hearing was a nice and cosy coterie of top policemen and lawyers, the sole lay person was a magistrate.

The punishment of a final written warning lasting for 18 months is risible. This verdict is a cop-out, or in reality it should have been.

Where is there any honour left in these people? As we say in Yorkshire: “They aren’t much cop.”

Geoff Robb, Hunters Close, Dunnington.

• “THE last thing in the world I would want to do is undermine the reputation of North Yorkshire Police.”

Sorry, Mr Maxwell... that’s exactly what you have done. Just go.

Gill Humphreys, Address supplied.

• UNLIKE some, I feel really sorry for Mr Grahame Maxwell, our chief constable.

Let’s get things into perspective; he hasn’t murdered anyone, he hasn’t robbed anyone, or run off with someone else’s wife. The “heinous crime” he allegedly committed was to help a relative to get a job, in preference to others.

Hands on hearts, who many of us, whatever the positions, would have done likewise?

If that amounts to gross misconduct then we have become a right lot of namby pambys, and I’ll eat my flat cap.

Ken Holmes, Cliffe Common, Selby.