Cleveland Police announced a clean sweep of an under-fire force yesterday. Julia Breen and Graeme Hetherington report

SCANDAL-hit Cleveland Police will bring in more senior officers from outside to help break the culture within the force, it emerged last night.

As Chief Constable Iain Spittal announced that the professional standards department (PSD), which investigates complaints, misconduct allegations and wrongdoing amongst officers, would be disbanded, he also announced a full review of how to replace it.

Every application made under RIPA law in the last six years will also be examined in an independent study, and national policing expert John Armstrong, who was recommended by police watchdog Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, will put together a blueprint for its replacement.

That could include a head of PSD from outside the police service, in a pioneering move.

The planned changes to Cleveland Police’s disciplinary department comes in the wake of a litany of failed employment tribunals, internal misconduct hearings and the unlawful use of surveillance powers.

The force has faced numerous claims of racism in the past few years and it was the misuse RIPA to track down a whistle-blower who tipped off The Northern Echo about an equality review that eventually led to the department being overhauled.

Chief Constable Iain Spittal and Police and Crime Commissioner Barry Coppinger apologised for the force’s failings before announcing it was bringing in external specialists to help the force to repair its failed disciplinary department.

The Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) in London heard that the force unlawfully used RIPA, to find out the source of damaging leaks.

Former officers Steve Matthews and Mark Dias complained to the IPT that the force had unlawfully used legislation and breached their privacy. A ruling is expected to be made later this month.

Last month, the force’s disciplinary proceedings against Sergeant Waseem Khan were dropped mid-way through when it came to light that one officer had been threatened with disciplinary proceedings if he didn’t give evidence against his colleague.

Sgt Khan, who was based at Middlesbrough Police Station, was suspended on full pay for three years and nine months, at a cost to the taxpayer of about £150,000, plus pension benefits of about £10,000 a year on top.

In November, former firearms officer Nadeem Saddique was awarded £457,664 in damages after winning a race discrimination tribunal against the force.

The PC won his case after his claims that a fellow firearms officer had a racist sticker on his gun holster, and that another armed officer had said “let’s go and shoot some P*** kids” were not investigated properly by the force.

Police and Crime Commissioner Barry Coppinger said: “It is clear from recent cases that mistakes have been made in the past.

I hope those affected can look at the changes we are now implementing and accept that we have listened, we have learned and we are determined to improve.”

Mr Spittal said there were “good staff ” in the teams within PSD but said the approaches were “old fashioned and could harbour an environment where mistakes can be made”.

He said the recent Investigatory Powers Tribunal hearing in London, in which it emerged the force had acted unlawfully, showed the needed to commission an independent review to look at the decision making behind the monitoring of phone records.

He said: “The most recent HMIC inspection described us as a good force. They examined the force and continue to examine us. We are not the finished product, I don’t think we will ever be perfect, but we are moving forward very strongly.

“I have brought people in from outside Cleveland Police, and will and I have some exceptional people who work for me.”

Mr Coppinger will also hold a formal scrutiny meeting later this month to ensure the current surveillance practices are lawful and appropriate.

Mr Spittal told The Northern Echo that once the IPT’s judgement was published, the review will look at whether there needs to be any disciplinary or criminal proceedings against former or serving officers.

Mr Coppinger also confirmed that any officer found to have been abusing his position or acting illegally during the time of the review into the use of RIPA would face disciplinary or criminal proceedings.

He said: “There are clear polices in place to deal with wrongdoing and they will be used if any officer is found to have breached those policies. We are working with the HMIC throughout these investigations and any decisions will be made in consultation with them.”

However Mr Coppinger ruled out any chance of the force being merged.

He said: “I was disappointed to hear, before Christmas, calls for Cleveland Police to be abolished and merged with other forces. I know that the people of Cleveland would not support this.

“Whilst I am commissioner there will be no question of this force merging with another.”