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A senior police officer has admitted gross misconduct after supplying another officer with the topics that would come up in a promotion interview.

Cambridgeshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Naveed Malik was informally mentoring an inspector ahead of the process, a misconduct hearing heard.

ACC Malik then instructed a staff member to tell the inspector the areas to concentrate on for the interview.

An apology has been given by ACC Malik, who said he was "deeply embarrassed".

A panel will decide what happens to ACC Malik after hearing further evidence.

The process to appoint a new chief inspector for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire was due to take place in February 2017.

Terminated promotion process

ACC Malik, jointly the most senior serving BAME [black and minority ethnic] officer in the country, was to chair the second stage of the interviews.

The misconduct hearing at Wyboston Lakes Conference Centre, Bedfordshire, heard ACC Malik and his panel agreed to change the wording of one the questions on day one of the three-day process.

He instructed a police staff member, known as B, to call the inspector, known as A, in question and tell them the four areas to focus on.

But the inspector said it did not seem right and wanted to be promoted on merit, adding "go back and tell (ACC Malik) that I didn't want to listen", before reporting the matter to the chief constable.

The promotion process was terminated the following day.

ACC Malik said: "I am deeply embarrassed by my actions. They represent a complete aberration.

"I apologise unreservedly to staff member B, Inspector A and to the Chief Constable. I have let them and myself down. My actions were utterly out of character."

The misconduct hearing, which is expected to last two days, continues.