Lincolnshire police chief resumes control of his force

Mr Rhodes met with officers in the force after the decision yesterday afternoon and said he was looking forward to getting back to work after Easter.

He said in a statement: “Having been reinstated as a constable and Chief Constable I have travelled back from the Judicial Review hearing at Manchester and have met with my chief officer team and have resumed control of the force. “Over the Easter period I will be taking a long-planned period of leave and I look forward to serving the community of Lincolnshire as best I am able upon my return.

“I would very much like to thank the huge number of people in the Lincolnshire Police and ordinary members of the public for their messages of support which number several hundred. I am really grateful to them and I want to get back to work to repay their faith in me.

“The most important thing now is that all of our attention turns to policing the County of Lincolnshire.”

Mr Rhodes was suspended in February by Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Hardwick, following allegations he had supported a Muslim lawyer from another force to wrongly secure compensation in a racial discrimination tribunal.

He denied any wrongdoing.

Mr Hardwick said that although he respects the decision of the court, he stood by his original decision to suspend the officer, and that an independent investigation into the allegations would be continuing.