Cleared deputy chief constable to return to work Mr Hyde's case reflects what many say has been an uneasy working relationship between top police officers and elected police and crime commissioners. Richard Rhodes, Cumbria's Police and Crime Commissioner, had said Mr Hyde had "demonstrated a lack of judgment" in his use of a corporate credit card. Mr Rhodes also said Mr Hyde had shown an apparent failure to adhere to force policies in relation to the proper provision of full receipts and the use of his card for personal or unauthorized expenditure. He had also complained that Mr Hyde had been away from Cumbria for 22 per cent of his working days on trips to Amsterdam, Washington DC and Romania. However Mr Rhodes said he accepted the decision of Bernard Lawson, Cumbria's current temporary chief constable, to reinstate Mr Hyde. Mr Hyde welcomed the decision to restore him to his post of deputy chief constable, where he will be responsible for information technology. "This has been a very difficult time for me and my family," he said. I am pleased that this has been brought to an end by Bernard Lawson and that I can return to an important role as deputy chief constable and look forward to working with him and the officers and staff of the constabulary. I am glad that a clear line has been drawn under the last 12 months and that I can continue contributing to policing and making our society safer, as I have done for nearly 30 years. Although I could have retired on August 31 after 30 years' service, I aim to leave the constabulary by the end of December. I have always worked hard for the people of Cumbria and have made a significant contribution to policing in the past and I hope, and expect, this to continue in the future.