THE Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police has been quizzed about alleged bribery and misconduct in public office by detectives in Northern Ireland.

Mark Gilmore, who has previously worked for Lancashire Constabulary grew up in Belfast and spent most of his career there.

He has been suspended on full pay by West Yorkshire police and crime commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson following his former force's probe into the award of police vehicle contracts.

He voluntarily attended a police station in his native city last week for interview and Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) detectives are drawing up a file to be handed to prosecutors who will decide whether to press charges.

A PSNI statement said: "Detectives are also preparing a file on a 49-year-old man following inquiries into bribery and misconduct in public office which were initiated by this investigation.”

Seven men have been arrested by detectives working on the case and questioned on suspicion of offences including bribery, misconduct in public office and procuring misconduct in public office.

Mr Gilmore a former commander for the Belfast region tactical support group, which deals with riots. He was further promoted, working in Lisburn, went on secondment with Lancashire Police and in 2008 he was appointed as chief of staff to Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) president Sir Ken Jones.

Five years ago he became assistant chief constable of West Yorkshire Police, then deputy chief of Northumbria Police in 2011.

He was appointed as the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police last year, replacing Sir Norman Bettison.