I HAVE watched with interest the debate on what should or should not have happened to Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell over his alleged misdemeanours and have come to the conclusion that the sanctions imposed by the Independent Police Complaints Commissioner (IPCC) were correct.

As I understand it, his actions resulted from nothing more than advising a family member as to where to ring to obtain an application form to join the police and for this he is being pilloried in the media and facing calls for him to resign.

His accusers seem to forget what North Yorkshire Police have achieved during his tenure and that he has turned our police force into one of the best in the country.

We have never seen crime records been as low as they are now and these are the result of good leadership and practical policing.

I have no problem in punishments fitting the crime, but let’s not forget that Mr Maxwell has not committed any crime; he has not frittered away vast amounts of taxpayers’ money; nor has he stolen the family silver.

Let his record in terms of performance and leadership of the force be his judge and jury.

Malcolm Smith, Hirstead Road, Scarborough.

• WE HAVE heard many views as to whether Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell should go or stay. His own police authority stated he had “sought to avoid being held to account by pursuing spurious legal remedies and unsustainable arguments in his defence”.

In other words, he cost us all much more money trying to get away with it.

However, there is a silver lining for all officers of North Yorkshire Police who have a finding of gross misconduct against them. You can keep your jobs – the precedent has been set.

Name and address supplied.