Sean Price: Cleveland Police confirm misconduct hearing date

Sean Price was arrested in August 2011

The chief constable of Cleveland Police will face a misconduct hearing next month, it has been confirmed.

Sean Price faces claims he used "undue influence" during the appointment of the daughter of Dave McLuckie, the former police authority chairman, to a civilian post with the force.

The hearing will start on 26 September and is expected to last for two weeks.

It follows an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

In a statement, Cleveland Police Authority said: "The authority's Professional Standards Sub-Committee met to consider the report and agreed with the IPCC's recommendations that there was a case to answer for three matters in respect of potential gross misconduct, and therefore referred the case to a misconduct hearing."

Mr Price remains on bail while Operation Sacristy, a wider criminal investigation relating to individuals with past and present associations to Cleveland Police Authority, continues.

Mr Price and Derek Bonnard were arrested in 2011

He was arrested along with his deputy chief constable Derek Bonnard last year.

Mr Bonnard is no longer on bail but remains suspended from duty. Both have previously denied any wrongdoing and have made legal claims for wrongful arrest.

Mr Price and Mr Bonnard face separate disciplinary hearings into allegations surrounding the misuse of public funds and corporate credit cards.

It emerged last week that the IPCC is also investigating details of the arrest of Mr Price's wife, Det Ch Insp Heather Eastwood, last April.

She was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly in North Yorkshire but it is alleged the couple failed to report the arrest to Cleveland Police.

Ms Eastwood is suspended from duty pending the outcome of the investigation.

Cleveland Police Authority has confirmed Mr Price's contract will not be renewed when it expires in March.

Mr McLuckie, a Redcar and Cleveland councillor, is on police bail until November.