The news yesterday that the North Yorkshire Police Chief was under investigation about claims he may have aided family members to gain an unfair advantage in a recent recruitment drive brought about a couple of very different reactions for me.
I am firstly against the recent trend of trial by media, this should have been kept totally under wraps until such a point that any allegations were proven as watching the local news last night I was very much under the impression that Graham Maxwell and his deputy Adam Briggs had already been found guilty when the announcement was that an investigation was beginning, this surely is now made all the more difficult by information being made public in advance.
The second reaction was one that seems totally the opposite, I am please that someone has seen fit to report their concerns that procedures may not have been followed and this is being followed up, it can’t have been easy for the person who reported it.
I remember once being told about a job by a relative who happened to be one of the bosses. I probably should have declined the suggestion to apply as I passionately believe in getting a job on my own hard work and merits is the best way to do it but I did know I would work very hard and did actually deserve it. I was left out in the cold by other staff members for quite some time before I did prove myself.
So I hope it turns out that the Police Chief declared an interest in advance and followed the protocols that would have been in place or it will be an extremely hard lesson to learn.
