Rare outburst from deadpan career officer

The dramatic exit from a Newsnight interview by the chief constable of Humberside on Wednesday was unusual in every sense.

Those who know David Westwood describe him as a calm and patient man, who fits few of the stereotypes of a career policeman despite being in the service since the age of 18.

His force and Humberside police authority have both refused to comment, saying they do not want to pre-empt the inquiry into the errors made in the Huntley case.

Earlier on Wednesday, when asked if he felt he should resign, Mr Westwood replied that it was "not a matter for me".

But his Newsnight performance - stalking away as Jeremy Paxman grilled him over the force's blunders - has increased uncertainty about whether he will see out the last 18 months of his seven-year contract.

"It doesn't do his credibility much good," said Leroy Logan, formerly chair of the National Black Police Association, who has worked closely with Mr Westwood, chair of the Association of Chief Police Officers' race and community relations committee. "It's a real surprise; he's not an outwardly expressive person. He's a deadpan sort of character.

"Obviously he's been under a lot of pressure and I guess we all have our breaking point. [But] your responsibility in that position is to show calmness and real ownership of the issue, without outbursts."

John Meehan, editor of the Hull Daily Mail, said that it was unusual for the "well-mannered and mild-mannered" officer to get upset. "I have never seen him lose his temper. "It's an error of judgment, but I don't think it's a hanging offence. What matters here is how effective he is as chief constable of Humberside."

Mr Westwood, 55, joined his local Sussex force in 1966. In 1992 he joined Humberside as a chief superintendent, moving to Merseyside for two years to work as assistant chief constable. He returned to Humberside as deputy chief constable and took the top job in March 1999.

Mr Westwood made his mark with a popular "bobbies on the beat" strategy. He was rewarded with a Queen's police medal two years ago.

Humberside became one of seven forces to receive help in improving performance from the Home Office's police standards unit. Its detection rate was only 16% in 2002-3, compared with a national rate of 24%.

Mr Meehan said that locals felt Humberside was making progress under Mr Westwood's leadership. "He's been focused on back to basics policing. That has been very well received ." But he added: "It hasn't always made him popular amongst the rank and file."

Mr Westwood earns around £100,000 a year and lives four doors away from the deputy prime minister John Prescott, in a Hull suburb.

In 2000 Mr Westwood had to axe a controversial anti-terrorist operation after the scheme was leaked to the Observer. A memo had instructed officers to report even routine dealings with anyone of Irish descent or background.

And there is enduring anger over the force's handling of the 1998 death of Christopher Alder, the black former paratrooper who choked to death in Hull police station while five officers stood by joking.

A police disciplinary inquiry - conducted by the chief constable of another force - cleared the sergeant and constables involved, following their acquittal on manslaughter and neglect of duty charges at crown court. The jury at his inquest had returned a verdict of unlawful killing.