GMP Chief Facing Criminal Probe

CHIEF CONSTABLE of Greater Manchester Police, Sir Peter Fahy, 55, is to come under scrutiny by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) for an alleged 'poorly-handled investigation' into a suspected child sex offender.

"As a chief constable you face making complex decisions on a daily basis about many high-risk and challenging situations. It is right that this decision-making is scrutinised."

Confidential understands that the allegations against Fahy, made by a whistleblower currently working in the force, relate to an investigation that may have put a vulnerable child in danger of a suspected paedophile.

Three other GMP officers, one retired, have also been informed they are under investigation by the IPCC.

In separate allegations, the IPCC are investigating claims that the force misled families of the victims of serial killer Harold Shipman regarding the disposal of body parts.

Fahy's colleague, GMP Assistant Chief Contable Terry Sweeney, has been handed a gross misconduct in relation to the Shipman investigation.

Serial killer Harold Shipman

Samples from twelve of Shipman's exhumed victims were kept for more than a decade by Greater Manchester Police for testing, before allegedly being disposed of without the consent of the victim's families.

Sir Peter Fahy has released this statement: "As a chief constable you face making complex decisions on a daily basis about many high-risk and challenging situations.

"It is right that this decision-making is scrutinised and that I am held to account as part of this investigation."

Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk has called for the Chief Constable to be suspended.