ONE Chief Inspector, at least 26 police officers and nine force staff have been arrested across the region since 2014, according to figures obtained by The Northern Echo.

Officers and employees at Northumbria Police, Durham Constabulary and Cleveland Police have been arrested for offences including rape, child abuse, sexual assault, possession of Class A drugs and drink-driving.

In 14 cases across the region, no further action was taken following the initial arrest but at least three others were dismissed and 11 cautioned or convicted at court while six individuals who were cleared at court were disciplined internally.

At least 14 individuals arrested were allowed to resign from their role rather than face police misconduct hearings.

A Freedom of Information request by The Northern Echo found that a Chief Inspector, a sergeant,14 PCs or PCSOs (Police community Support Officers) and seven staff members working for Northumbria Police had been arrested.

One was cleared at court over the rape of a man and another cleared over inciting a child under 13 to engage in a sex act. Both resigned prior to police misconduct hearings.

A further six Northumbria employees resigned ahead of internal disciplinaries.

Two had been convicted of drink-driving, one fined for assault, another received a penalty notice for being drunk and disorderly and one was cautioned for fraud. Another was cautioned for unauthorised access to computer material with intent and resigned after 21 years’ service.

One Northumbria staff member was dismissed for drink-driving.

In Durham, three officers, four PCSOs and one staff member were arrested, while the figures for Cleveland Police were nine officers and one member of support staff.

Two Cleveland Police officers were dismissed for offences relating to the possession of Class A drugs and theft, though they were both cleared in court.

Another retired after being investigated over an allegation of misconduct in office while a staff member resigned after pleading guilty to drink-driving in court.

Four Durham Constabulary officers cleared in court resigned or retired prior to facing misconduct hearings.

The offences they were accused of were: bribery and perverting the course of justice, misuse of force systems and inappropriate actions with a vulnerable woman, inappropriate action with a woman while on duty and sexual assault.

A PCSO was dismissed from the force after being prosecuted for drink-driving and another drink-driving staff member received a final written warning after being disqualified from driving for 12 months in court.

Another officer was cleared in court but given a written warning over discreditable conduct in relation to breaching the data protection act.

North Yorkshire Police refused to provide figures, saying that the information was not “in an easily retrievable format”.

Darlington MP Jenny Chapman, formerly Shadow Prison Minister, said: “Police officers should be subject to the same law as everybody else.

“It is good that the law is being upheld as vigorously with people who serve in the police as with other citizens.”

In relation to officers resigning prior to misconduct hearings, she added: “No individual should be able to evade being subject to proceedings by resigning from their post. It undermines public confidence.”

Spokeswomen for Cleveland Police and Durham Constabulary said any allegation of a criminal offence against a serving officer or member of staff would be investigated and dealt with in the same way as any other case.