Former police officer resigns from ICAC

Former NSW assistant police commissioner Clive Small has resigned from his position as a senior investigator with the state's corruption watchdog.

A spokeswoman for the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) confirmed Mr Small had resigned as operations director.

"Yes, he has resigned," the spokeswoman said.

But she was unable to give any information on why Mr Small had left the ICAC, saying: "It's really a matter for him."

Premier Morris Iemma only became aware of Mr Small's resignation when he was asked by reporters about it.

"Your question's the first I've heard of it," Mr Iemma said.

Mr Small was employed by former ICAC commissioner Irene Moss in 2004 after working as a special adviser on crime prevention to the Premier's Department for two years.

He officially left the police force after almost 40 years of service in 2003 when Commissioner Ken Moroney decided not to renew his contract.

In 2002, Mr Small denied an allegation he was involved in a plot to discredit Mr Moroney and the then police minister, Michael Costa.

Former detective sergeant Tim Priest told a parliamentary inquiry that former commissioner Peter Ryan and Mr Small were members of a group trying to undermine Mr Moroney and Mr Costa.

Mr Small subsequently alleged before the inquiry that Mr Priest and Sydney academic Richard Basham had tried to pressure him into joining a campaign aimed at ruining the reign of Mr Ryan.

He told the inquiry the two men had offered to help him become commissioner after they got rid of Mr Ryan.

In 2001, Mr Priest told the same inquiry that Mr Small had hidden a report recommending action against organised crime gangs in the Sydney suburb of Cabramatta.

Mr Small told the inquiry that Mr Priest, who was then still a police officer, had maliciously distorted the truth.