Cleveland Police statement

"In 2010 Cleveland Police received 6 complaints which were subject of a managed Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation. At the conclusion of the investigation 4 of these complaints were unsubstantiated, a fifth matter was a ‘statement of fact’ involving an officer from another Force and the sixth complaint is subject of the settlement with Mr. Watson.

One of the officers under investigation retired in October 2011, some 12 months after the start of the investigation."

"ACC White considered the suspension of this officer in October 2011 in accordance with the policy and practices of the Force and based solely upon the information and evidence presented to him by the investigation team.

Having fully considered the interim report of the IPCC investigator, and having consulted with specialist advisors as well as inviting submissions to the suspension review process from key parties ACC White decided that the conditions to justify suspension were not met."

Having fully considered the interim report of the IPCC investigator, and having consulted with specialist advisors as well as inviting submissions to the suspension review process from key parties ACC White decided that the conditions to justify suspension were not met.The IPCC report recommends that I debrief and discuss with ACC White the process for making this decision, with the benefit of hindsight, which I have done, and I fully support him.

I have accepted the recommendations within the report and have implemented changes.