THE chief constable of Wiltshire Police is being investigated by the police watchdog about the way he handled complaints relating to allegations of sexual abuse.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating Patrick Geenty, along with an unnamed inspector and detective constable from the force, about the way they dealt with complaints lodged in 2008 and 2009.

The complaint regarding the police inspector and detective constable was referred to the IPCC by Wiltshire Police.

The office of the Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson received the complaint in relation to Mr Geenty.

The allegations are that in 2009 the then detective inspector and detective constable, having examined the way the force dealt with the sexual abuse allegations, withheld information from the complainants about the extent of the force’s failings.

It is also alleged that the then assistant chief constable, Mr Geenty, also withheld information and misled the complainants.

Sarah Green, IPCC deputy chairman, said: “It is vital that the public are confident that police forces will take their complaints seriously and act with honesty and integrity. Our investigation will seek to establish whether information was knowingly withheld and whether these complainants were knowingly and dishonestly misled.”