IT NOW seems increasingly unlikely that four Macclesfield police officers, suspended on full pay 21 months ago, will face criminal charges.
The officers, who have never been named but are understood to include one sergeant, were suspended in September 2003 after an investigation was launched by Cheshire police's Professional Standards Department into "the handling of property."
Their homes were searched using warrants and the police confirmed at the time that a 28-year-old male officer was arrested for possession of cannabis.
In almost two years since then there has been no further news of the fate of the officers, but Cheshire Police now say: "The majority of the files have now been returned from the Crown Prosecution Service. To date no criminal action has been authorised but some matters have yet to be determined.
"The officers will be subject of further misconduct investigation and will remain suspended whilst that process is completed."
It now transpires that the Crown Prosecution Service were only handed the file six months ago.
The information came out after several requests from the Macclesfield Express attempting to discover whether the investigation had made any progress since September 2003.
The latest statement from Cheshire police says: "An extensive investigation has been carried out under the guidance of the Professional Standards Department headed by one of the forces senior investigating officers, supervised by the Police Complaints Authority and subsequently the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
"The nature and circumstances of the matters investigated has been complex and has involved liaison with the CPS Special Casework directorate. This resulted in 26 files of evidence being submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service on November 18, 2004."
During the 21 months it has taken to conduct the investigation, the officers concerned have been suspended on full pay. Cheshire police admitted the cost has been significant.
The statement continued: "Investigations into this type of allegation are complex and have to be conducted in a meticulous and thorough manner which is why the investigation has taken the time it has. In excess of 800 investigative actions have been carried out and over 200 witness statements taken.
"The cost has been significant, but in order to protect its integrity the force is obliged to ensure every avenue of investigation has been explored to prove or disprove the allegations made."
There is no indication of how long it will take the CPS to complete the review of the remaining files relating to criminal charges, or for the Professional Standards Department to decide whether to take disciplinary action.
