WEST Yorkshire Chief Constable Mark Gilmore will not face charges in relation to a bribery and misconduct investigation in Northern Ireland, prosecutors in the region have said.

Mr Gilmore, a former Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officer, was suspended last June on full pay by West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson in the wake of a PSNI probe into the award of its police vehicle contracts.

The police chief, who denied any wrongdoing, was questioned by detectives in his native Belfast last August.

A file was then sent to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) for assessment.

A spokesman for the PPS said today: "The PPS has made a decision not to prosecute one individual in relation to the overall investigation - that is Mark Gilmore.

"There are a number of files relating to other individuals still under consideration.

"In relation to Mr Gilmore there was insufficient evidence to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction."

Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “I understand a decision has been taken by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) in Northern Ireland not to prosecute Mark Gilmore.

“A review of the suspension of the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire is currently being undertaken.”

At the time of his suspension, Mr Gilmore, who attended police interview in Belfast voluntarily, insisted he had always acted with honesty and integrity.

Before questioning Mr Gilmore, PSNI detectives had arrested seven men on suspicion of offences including bribery, misconduct in public office and procuring misconduct in public office.