A former legal chief who feared having to pay more than £600,000 after she lost an employment tribunal against a police force has been told she must hand over just £15,000.
Denise Aubrey’s tribunal led to a series of embarrassing allegations being aired about Northumbria Police, including details of alleged affairs between senior staff, claims of a punch-up at a barbecue and public money being spent on a cover-up.
She brought the claim in the summer of 2016 after she was sacked for gross misconduct following a 20-year career with the force where she was head of legal services.
The former head of legal services for Northumbria Police has been ordered to pay the Force £15,000 – which will now be…
Posted by Northumbria Police on Monday, January 15, 2018
She said her own legal costs were less than £40,000.
Northumbria Police welcomed the judgment and said it will use the £15,000 on policing.
A spokesman said: “It would have been unconscionable for us not to seek reimbursement on behalf of our local communities and this much-needed money will now be reinvested back into policing.
“The decision by the judge allows us to move on and do what we do best – to protect the people of Northumbria and serve our local communities with pride.”
The costs application was made before the tribunal panel during a hearing in Leeds last month.
