Cleveland Police racism report complaints returned by IPCC

The force referred itself to the IPCC last month

A police force that referred itself to a watchdog over a review into claims of institutional racism has had the matter returned to it for investigation.

Cleveland Police said it received criticism of aspects of its Equality Review, conducted in 2011 and 2012.

It concerned two officers, a member of police staff and "matters which relate to the Chief Constable, Jacqui Cheer".

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has referred the matter back to the force to deal with.

'Overlooked for promotion'

However, the force and the Police and Crime Commissioner's office have decided that, "in the interests of ethical independence", it would be "appropriate" to appoint an external police force to investigate.

Cleveland's Equality Review followed a report that included claims by black and ethnic minority officers that they had been overlooked for promotion and disciplined more harshly than white colleagues.

Ms Cheer has previously denied the force is institutionally racist, but said it had "serious issues to address".

The force referred complaints relating to "various aspects of the management of the Equality Review" and the "subsequent media coverage" to the IPCC last month.