Policeman resigns over 'lewd party'

Graham Cawley was suspended after the event

A senior police commander at the centre of claims of "inappropriate" behaviour at a charity ball in Bristol has resigned.

Chief Superintendent Graham Cawley had been suspended from the Avon and Somerset force since June, pending an inquiry.

Allegations centred on the event hosted by Knowle West Against Drugs, (KWADs) which aimed to foster good relations between police officers and the community.

At a police news conference on Friday, it was announced that Mr Cawley had "reconsidered his position" and resigned from the force.

Children: "Exposed to inappropriate behaviour"

Several people complained about alleged drunken and lewd behaviour by a number of officers at the party, which was to honour two of their retired colleagues.

Five male and five female officers were alleged to have groped one another on the dance floor and one couple were said to have had sex in a lavatory.

Children were exposed to the inappropriate behaviour, it was claimed.

Deputy Chief Constable Martin Richards, said: "We thought long and hard on whether it was in the public interest to pursue with the disciplinary process or accept Graham's resignation.

"We have tried to strike a balance between demonstrating our integrity and our duty to implement the disciplinary process with the financial implications to the force."

KWADs was formed to fight drug taking in the Knowle West area of Bristol.

The group's founder, Mary Smith, was awarded an OBE in 2000.