Police Chief Michelle Skeer slams 'grossly misleading' allegations

Cumbria Constabulary's Acting Chief Constable Michelle Skeer has released a full statement in response to claims she was subject to a "corruption and misconduct" investigation by an external police force.

Mrs Skeer confirmed that Northumbria Police is currently investigating a public complaint about her, but says notions that the complaint is related to corruption or misconduct are "grossly misleading and irresponsible".

She has also addressed the controversy surrounding her, and Cumbria Constabulary's, handling of the investigation into the death of 13-month-old Poppi Worthington.

Read her full statement below:

Mrs Skeer released the statement after reports on BBC North West Tonight, that the investigation into her was to do with "corruption and misconduct".

She has been heavily criticised by John Woodcock, MP for Barrow and Furness.

After Mrs Skeer called John Woodcock's comments "grossly misleading and irresponsible", he responded by tweeting that her statement was "defamatory":

In a Skype interview with ITV Border, Mr Woodcock said it was "staggering" that Cumbria's Police and Crime Commissioner, Richard Rhodes, had appointed Michelle Skeer Acting Chief Constable, while aware she was the subject of a "serious investigation by another force":

But Cumbria's Police and Crime Commissioner, Richard Rhodes, has rejected criticism of his own decision to make Mrs Skeer Acting Chief Constable: