A top National Crime Agency official was secretly sacked for gross misconduct in the second scandal to be exposed by the Mail in less than a week.

Charlie Edwards, the £130,000-a-year ‘Director of Strategy’ at Britain’s version of the FBI, was dismissed after a panel concluded he ‘acted inappropriately during a procurement exercise’ and accepted undeclared ‘hospitalities’ from a company involved in the process.

Sources said the controversy is linked to the NCA’s 10th anniversary celebrations last year when the Agency’s boss, Graeme Biggar, boasted about its crime fighting achievements in videos posted online.

A special birthday party at County Hall in London, attended by ministers, politicians, a Who’s Who of the police and law enforcement world and other VIPs, was the climax of the festivities.

But amid enormous secrecy, the anniversary celebrations later became the subject of an embarrassing misconduct probe involving one of its most senior officials, whose rank was equivalent to a deputy chief constable.

Inquiries uncovered concerns about the process for awarding of a contract, and gifts received in return, which resulted in Mr Edwards, a former senior figure at the Cabinet Office, being dismissed.

Last night the scandal deepened after the NCA declined answer a series of pertinent questions from the Mail, including details of the contract at the centre of the row, and the value of the undeclared ‘hospitalities’ received.

Charlie Edwards (pictured), the £130,000-a-year ‘Director of Strategy’ at Britain’s version of the FBI , was dismissed after a panel concluded he ‘acted inappropriately during a procurement exercise’

The latest row to engulf the Agency comes after the Mail revealed on Saturday how Britain’s ‘most controversial policeman’, Steve Rodhouse – joint deputy head of the NCA on £200,000 a year – was secretly found guilty of misconduct three years ago after ‘recklessly’ leaving his work laptop in the backseat of his car while attending the theatre with his wife.

The device, containing details of highly sensitive operations against serious and organised crime, was stolen along with classified paper documents – sparking a huge security scare.

The incident was hushed up with Mr Rodhouse receiving a written warning rather than his marching orders. 

Now Director-General (Strategic Projects) at the NCA, he is currently awaiting a gross misconduct board for allegedly lying at the conclusion of Scotland Yard’s disastrous VIP child sex abuse inquiry, Operation Midland, which wrecked the lives of innocent figures such as ex armed forces chief and D-Day hero, Lord Bramall.

Critics accuse Glasgow-born Mr Biggar, an Oxford-educated civil servant, of overseeing a ‘culture of cover-up’ at the NCA to shield it from embarrassment and public scrutiny.

Last year the NCA marked its 10th anniversary in style. There were lavish video productions trumpeting its achievements over the last ten years since it launched in October 2013 and a series of access all areas podcasts by a leading investigative journalist.

Mr Biggar, the head of the law enforcement agency which works internationally as well as domestically, even appeared in a filmed question and answer format.

Then he was asked when it meant to reach the milestone and he replied with mock humility claiming the institution, which boasts and £860 million budget, was ‘just marking a number’.

Steve Rodhouse (pictured) – joint deputy head of the NCA on £200,000 a year – was secretly found guilty of misconduct three years ago after ‘recklessly’ leaving his work laptop in the backseat of his car while attending the theatre with his wife

But sat in front of the NCA coats of arms and dressed in a business-like suit and tie he continued: ‘It shows that we have reached maturity as an organisation really established in this country.

‘It’s a really important moment for us all to reflect on the brilliant work that we have been doing for the last decade and how we can better tackle the decade ahead.’

With a Miami Vice-style soundtrack playing in the background, Mr Biggar said crime was evolving so the NCA needed to evolve with it. ‘So, we’re going to focus our efforts upstream,’ he added.

In response to a series of questions from the Mail, the NCA issued a statement relating to the misconduct probe into Mr Edwards.

‘Following a panel hearing, the NCA’s Director of Strategy, Charlie Edwards, was found to have committed gross misconduct,’ a spokesperson said.

‘The panel, chaired by an NCA Director, concluded that he acted inappropriately during a procurement exercise and failed to declare hospitalities provided by a commercial organisation involved in that process.

‘The panel found that this was a serious error of judgment amounting to gross misconduct which justified his dismissal from the Agency.

‘The NCA expects the highest standards of conduct from all of our officers. Where those standards are not met appropriate action will be taken.’

‘An appeal is ongoing in this case.’

It added: ‘This matter was handled in line with our regulations and misconduct policies, which we adhere to without exception. The NCA does not hold public misconduct hearings.’

The Agency declined to say when exactly Mr Edwards was sacked, and why it had not publicised his dismissal until challenged by the Mail this week.

In response to a series of questions from the Mail, the NCA issued a statement relating to the misconduct probe into Mr Edwards

As Director of Strategy at the NCA, Mr Edwards was ‘responsible for the Agency’s Strategy and overseeing its implementation; Corporate governance; Performance, assurance and risk; Communication and engagement, Private Offices and Secretariat; Enterprise Design Authority and Portfolio Management’.

According to his LinkedIn profile, he left the NCA in September after working for it for nearly three years and is now a senior adviser at the International: Institute for Strategic Studies.

Contacted last night, Mr Edwards would only say: ‘I am appealing the decision on a number of grounds.’

Two years ago, the Mail revealed how a senior NCA official in the Caribbean had been sacked for gross misconduct.

Amid great secrecy, Annie Norris, who was based at the British High Commission in Barbados, was fired after an inquiry into the sale of a high value ‘covert asset’ used to spy on drug traffickers.

She faced the internal inquiry into claims she misused resources at the UK’s version of the FBI. This included claims she sold the NCA-owned surveillance asset to a friend at a discounted price and ran up huge roaming bills on her agency mobile phone, according to sources.

Former Tory MP Harvey Proctor, a victim of Mr Rodhouse’s Operation Midland inquiry said: ‘I urge Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to launch an immediate, high-level independent inquiry into the NCA’s fitness for purpose.’

Another distinguished former chief officer said: ‘Due to Rodhouse’s seniority, the head of the NCA had a duty of candour to tell the public what had happened. There has been a cover-up. Rodhouse should have been forced to resign.’

Former Tory MP Harvey Proctor, a victim of Midland, said: ‘Without doubt, Mr Rodhouse is Britain’s most controversial police chief by far. I am concerned there has been a cover-up at the NCA to protect Mr Rodhouse and the agency from public scrutiny and acute embarrassment.’