THE gross misconduct investigation into its Chief Constable has contributed to a legal bill for North Yorkshire Police of more than £185,000 – almost nine times the amount budgeted for.

Taxpayers will foot the bill for the disciplinary probe into Grahame Maxwell after he admitted “disreputable conduct” when he tried to help a relative get a job with North Yorkshire Police during a recruitment drive. Mr Maxwell received a final written warning.

Figures have now revealed North Yorkshire Police’s legal costs for 2010/11 spiralled to £185,606 – £164,068 more than the force expected to incur during the period.

A report which will go before North Yorkshire Police Authority next week said the overspend was down to a “range of issues” and not solely the controversy surrounding Mr Maxwell, who kept his job despite admitting his guilt during a behind-closed-doors disciplinary hearing earlier this month.

He has since faced a clamour to quit, with York Central MP Hugh Bayley, Selby and Ainsty MP Nigel Adams and City of York Council leader James Alexander among those calling for him to consider his position or leave.

Mr Maxwell’s predecessor, Della Cannings, also said she was surprised he was allowed to remain in his post after the Independent Police Complaints Commission heavily criticised him, saying he had initially defended himself by claiming “he could do what he wanted”.

The case stemmed from a recruitment drive staged by North Yorkshire Police last year when the force’s switchboard crashed under pressure from 200,000 callers who were interested in 60 jobs.

Mr Maxwell was later accused of advising a member of his extended family and a relative of his former deputy Adam Briggs to bypass the system, and has since apologised following his admission.

The overspend on legal costs, together with other aspects of the police authority’s budget, will be discussed when its management board meets next Friday. A report by the authority’s chief executive, Jeremy Holderness, said the costs included those which had already been paid in 2010/11 and the estimated costs for other matters for which invoices have not yet been received.

They account for a hefty chunk of a total overspend of £180,725 within the authority’s overall member support budget, which has also seen staffing for its clerks’ unit spill over by £15,232 and other staffing costs exceed the forecast level by £4,313.

The report also said the budget for bonuses for chief officers had underspent by £52,000, of which £44,000 will be transferred to the force’s financial reserves