Bradford top cop set up cheesemaking firm while suspended

Last week, Chief Superintendent Daniel Greenwood, who became Bradford's District Commander in 2021, tendered his resignation from West Yorkshire Police with immediate effect on the second day of a formal misconduct hearing at the force's headquarters in Wakefield.

The hearing was told he had a "wholly inappropriate" sexual relationship with a "very new probationer constable".

Mr Greenwood, a married man, was 37 at the time, while the woman was in her early 20s.

The hearing concluded that Mr Greenwood, who had admitted gross misconduct, would have been sacked had he still been employed.

He was suspended from West Yorkshire Police on November 3, 2021, and admitted his history with the woman 10 days later.

It has now emerged Mr Greenwood was subsequently involved in setting up Eldwick Creamery Ltd - which describes itself as "creating and sharing cheeses of exceptional quality" - and became a director of the business while he was suspended on full pay.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson this week told the Telegraph & Argus: "This is a clear breach of policy.

"We do not have a record of any person within the organisation having sought permission for a business interest of this nature."

The T&A asked the force what action it would take against Mr Greenwood in light of this breach.

The spokesperson said: "The matter has been referred to the Professional Standards Directorate who are assessing this breach of force policy."

A Freedom of Information Act request revealed Mr Greenwood's salary band was between £88,872 and £93,651.

The force spokesperson said: "In line with regulation 11 of the Police Conduct Regulations 2020, any police officer who is suspended from their duties is suspended on full pay while the allegations are investigated."

Eldwick Creamery's website has a section called The Founders Story.

It reads: "The strains and distractions of becoming an adult took over until events in 2020/2021 made me re-evaluate my life.

"I had always flirted with the idea of cheesemaking.

"One cold November morning in 2021, I decided to change the course of my life.

"My journey into cheese literally began with a six-mile walk over Baildon Moor to get fresh milk from a vending machine.

"From that day I made cheese with my expired rennet, I was instantly hooked.

"The exacting nature of cheesemaking, with precision in almost every process, fascinated me but also awoke my inner child and the desire to experiment, to create and to push myself.

"Being creative brought me joy, and now I want to push myself to give you joy through my food."

Eldwick Creamery has an online store and it is currently in the process of opening a shop near Bingley railway station.

Eldwick Creamery is in the process of opening a shop near Bingley railway station (Image: Newsquest)

Companies House documents state Eldwick Creamery Ltd - which was previously called Pumpkin Place Ltd and has a registered office address of Sheriff Lane, Bingley - was incorporated on February 16, 2022.

Mr Greenwood has been one of three 'persons with significant control' of the company since February 16, 2022, giving him ownership of shares, ownership of voting rights and a right to appoint or remove directors.

He has also been one of two directors of the business since February 16, 2022.

The T&A contacted Eldwick Creamery asking Mr Greenwood why he did not seek permission from West Yorkshire Police for this particular business venture.

We also asked him how he would respond to concerns from taxpayers that he became involved in this particular business venture while suspended from the force on full pay.

We also asked him how he would respond to the fact that this particular matter had been referred to the Professional Standards Directorate.

Daniel Greenwood in his policing days prior to his suspension (Image: Submitted)

In response, the T&A received an email from Eldwick Creamery stating: "No profit has been made and no money has been paid through either a salary or a dividend.

"Considerable life-savings have been used."

Mitigating for Mr Greenwood at the misconduct hearing, Hugh Davies KC said he was a "complex personality with addictive characteristics", including an alcohol addiction throughout his career.