CHIEF'SFLYING SQUAD

A POLICE chief who is set to retire next week and take a holiday in Australia may be summoned 12,000 miles back to the UK to give evidence against one of his PCs.

Sussex Chief Constable Paul Whitehouse resigned his pounds 94,000- a-year post after coming under attack in the wake of a critical report into the way an unarmed man was shot dead by his officers in Hastings in 1998.

Although he does not officially leave the force until next week, his plans for an extended break in Australia could be thrown into turmoil by a criminal case brought against traffic officer Michael Churchyard.

The 35-year-old PC faces five charges in relation to alleged illegal use of of the Police National Computer.

Prosecutors said that Mr Whitehouse was prepared to return to the country for the case, scheduled for December 17, but it is expected that the Crown Prosecution Service will have to pay for his flight.

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