Greater Manchester Police head Sir Peter Fahy in criminal misconduct probe over sex offender investigation
Another officer investigated over disposal of Harold Shipman's victims' bodies
The Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, Sir Peter Fahy, could face criminal misconduct proceedings over allegations that an investigation into a suspected sex offender was poorly handled.
He and three other serving officers are under investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) over allegations made by a whistleblower in the force.
As well as the sexual abuse investigation, the probe concerns the disposal of body parts from Harold Shipman’s victims.
A Detective Superintendent and a Detective Chief Inspector, whose names have not been released, were served with criminal and gross misconduct notices for their roles in the same investigation.
A retired officer could also be served with a criminal and gross misconduct notice concerning the case.
Terry Sweeney, GMP’s Assistant Chief Constable, is also being investigated for his oversight role in the disposal of body parts belonging to Dr Shipman’s victims.
The watchdog did not go into detail about the allegations, which emerged in a cache of GMP documents from one whistleblower relating to three investigations.
An investigation has been launched into whether police officers misled families over the disposal of human remains from victims of Harold Shipman The officer made a number of allegations including cronyism among senior officers, failure to follow correct procedures, failure to investigate complaints properly and corruption.
The IPCC announced the probe into the claims earlier this year, saying there would be three separate investigations.
One is examining claims that police misled families and the public when disposing of human tissue from Dr Shipman’s victims.
Remains from 12 of the GP's victims were kept for more than a decade by GMP for evidence in case of an appeal before they were allegedly secretly destroyed in 2011 without relatives' permission.
The remains reportedly belonged to Kathleen Grundy, Joan Melia, Winifred Mellor, Bianka Pomfret, Ivy Lomas, Marie Quinn, Irene Turner, Jean Lilley, Muriel Grimshaw, Alice Kitchen, Elizabeth Mellor and Sally Ashworth.
Dr Shipman was found guilty of 15 murders in 2000 but was suspected of many more. He was found hanged in his cell at Wakefield Prison in 2004.
A major incident room has been set up and relatives of his victims are being informed of progress.
In March, the IPCC said the allegations relating to a Detective Chief Inspector included claims of the unauthorised bugging of a police station office.
Regarding the sexual abuse investigation, the watchdog is examining claims it was badly handled and officers then covered up alleged failings.
Sir Peter said: “As a Chief Constable, you face making complex decisions on a daily basis about many high-risk and challenging situations.
"It is right that this decision-making is scrutinised and that I am held to account as part of this investigation."
After joining the police in 1981, he worked in Surrey, Hertfordshire and the West Midlands and served for five years as Chief Constable of Cheshire, before moving to Manchester.
The married father-of-four was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in January 2004 and a knighthood in June 2012.
Announcing the probe in March, IPCC Comissioner Jan Williams said: “These are serious allegations and the gravity and nature of the allegations, and the fact that they are made against senior officers within the force means they must be investigated independently.
“We will also look at the wider organisational response by Greater Manchester Police in each of these investigations.
“We know that the families involved will have been through very distressing times, and we will be sensitive to this as we conduct our investigations.
“We have a statutory duty to conduct independent investigations in circumstances such as these, but we will make sure that we communicate with the families and do whatever we can to avoid further distress.�
Read more: Harold Shipman victims probe to investigate whether Manchester police ‘misled’ families over human remains
Olympic diver has made his modelling debut for Adidas
-
Sports Direct security guard allegedly banned Jewish schoolboys and told them: 'No Jews, no Jews'
-
Scottish independence referendum: A nation divided against itself
-
Isis release 'Flames of War' video warning Obama of attacks troops could face in Iraq
-
John Travolta addresses former pilot's gay romance allegations publicly for the first time: 'That was the lowest I'd ever felt'
-
Alibaba IPO boosts Softbank's Masayoshi Son as he's crowned Japan's richest man
-
Daniele Watts: Django Unchained actress detained by Los Angeles police after being mistaken for a prostitute
-
Scottish independence referendum: A nation divided against itself
-
The political class is doing what Hitler couldn’t – destroying Britain
-
Scottish independence: Nationalist leader Jim Sillars threatens pro-union companies with 'day of reckoning' after independence
-
Portuguese academic says British are 'filthy, violent and drunk'
-
Scottish independence: The Queen breaks silence on referendum debate – as think tank warns of £14bn black hole if Scotland votes Yes
- 1 Daniele Watts: Django Unchained star's white boyfriend Brian Lucas confirms LAPD internally investigating 'racist' detainment
- 2 Isis release 'Flames of War' video warning Obama of attacks troops could face in Iraq
- 3 Pakistani passenger power forces two politicians off plane
- 4 Say yes to 'no-poo': It's been three years since I stopped washing my hair
- 5 John Travolta addresses former pilot's gay romance allegations publicly for the first time: 'That was the lowest I'd ever felt'
i100: A single mother on benefits who became one of the world's most successful authors
11 rags-to-riches underdog success stories
Forget top summer reads
here are our top five summer listens
A Brave New Season
Brogues vs trainers. The great winter coat debate. Shape-shifting silhouette PLUS win the edit
Get Reddy
For a hint of autumnal elegance opt for boozy hues of tomato, rouge and claret. Get reddy says Melanie Wilkinson
Get the look. See the trends.
Westfield and Snapfashion team up to create a new digital styling tool. Create a style board or browse this season's trends. #editme.
Jake Bugg: "I’m the one I have to answer to…"
Fresh out of his teenage years, singer-songwriter Jake Bugg has achieved the kind of success that most aspiring musicians can merely dream of.
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.