Former Pc loses damages claim

Former chief constable Ben Gunn was furious at the first ruling

Senior police officers acted reasonably in asking a constable to resign after she refused an order, an industrial tribunal has ruled.

The tribunal, which sat in Leicester, decided Cambridgeshire Police did not sexually discriminate against former Pc Stephanie McLachlan.

Mrs McLachlan, 41, of Peterborough, claimed that she had been unfairly treated by the then chief constable Ben Gunn at a disciplinary hearing in 1997.

She was disciplined after refusing to drop a minor shop lifting inquiry in favour of a child abduction case.

In 2001 an industrial tribunal ruled in Mrs McLachlan's favour and awarded her £55,000 for loss of earnings and hurt feelings.

Police appealed against the ruling and an appeal panel ordered the case to be re-heard.

On Tuesday Cambridgeshire Police announced the tribunal's decision following the second hearing.

Finally resolved

Mr Gunn had reacted furiously to the tribunal's original decision two years ago saying it had "totally misunderstood" the way the police operated.

The force began an immediate appeal, and the money was never paid.

A police spokesman said: "We are pleased with the decision, and that the case has finally been resolved."

Neither Mrs McLachlan nor Mr Gunn, who has now retired, were available for comment.