THE Home Office continues to rule out an official inquiry into Operation Lancet, despite increased pressure in Parliament.

Minister John Denham admitted that the cost - between £3.5m and £7m - of the controversial investigation of alleged corruption by Cleveland police officers was "cause for concern."

However he told the Commons that the current independent review would be enough to learn lessons for the future.

In the Commons, Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar repeated his concern about the four-year inquiry, in which 61 officers have been investigated over allegations ranging from supplying drugs for confessions to assaulting suspects.

The Crown Prosecution Service did not press any criminal charges, but eight officers, including zero tolerance pioneer Detective Superintendent Ray Mallon, remain suspended, awaiting disciplinary hearings.

Dr Kumar blamed Cleveland Chief Constable Barry Shaw and other senior officers for "a decision driven by petty jealousy and self-interest".

Det Supt Mallon claimed he was being followed by MI5, said the MP, but Mr Denham said it was policy "neither to confirm nor deny" individual operations of the security services.

Cleveland Police Authority chairman Councillor Ken Walker later challenged Dr Kumar to explain why he was not prepared to put his criticisms face-to-face, instead of "chasing the headlines" with attacks on the force and police authority in the media and Commons.

Repeated offers to meet and discuss the MPs concerns over Lancet had never been taken up, Coun Walker said.

Read more about Operation Lancet here.