A SPECIAL hearing which will decide the fate of North Yorkshire’s most senior police officer as he faces gross misconduct allegations was due to begin today.

Grahame Maxwell, the Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police, is alleged to have unfairly helped a relative during a recruitment drive staged by the force last year.

Mr Maxwell is contesting the allegations and will be among the witnesses giving evidence at the hearing, which is expected to last at least a week, with a four-strong panel headed by Joanna Greenberg QC making the decision on whether he should face sanctions.

He is the first chief constable in 35 years to face such disciplinary action, with the maximum penalty for gross misconduct being dismissal.

An Independent Police Complaints Commission spokeswoman said the outcome of the hearing would be make public.