Independent Police Complaints Commission
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Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police investigated
The IPCC is investigating the Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police, Patrick Geenty, an inspector and a detective constable from the force in relation to the way they dealt with complaints lodged in 2008 and 2009. Those complaints had been about the way the force handled allegations of sexual abuse.
The matter was referred to the IPCC by the force regarding the inspector and detective constable and by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in relation to the Chief Constable, on 29 August 2014 following complaints received.
The allegations within the recent complaints 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 as to 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.
IPCC Deputy Chair Sarah Green 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.”
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Notes to editors
Given the sensitive nature of the original sexual abuse allegations and following representation from a complainant, the IPCC will not be disclosing details of those original allegations. The complainants have requested privacy at this time.
The employment status of the officers is a matter for the OPCC and the force.
Media enquiries to IPCC press office on 020 7166 3951
