FORMER Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Pat Geenty has questions to answer after the IPCC found a case for potential misconduct at the end of a nine-month investigation.

As no grounds for a gross misconduct hearing have been found, Mr Geenty will still take his retirement on Sunday, having delayed his last day at the force twice since he announced his intention to stand down last February.

Two other officers - an inspector and a detective constable - who had also been under investigation, have had their suspensions lifted by the force.

The 140-page report from the Independent Police Complaints Commission into the way the force handled complaints relating to sexual abuse allegations in 2008 and 2009 was delivered to Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson on Thursday.

He will now have to make a decision regarding any disciplinary action taken.

A spokesperson for the IPCC said: "The IPCC has given the Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Angus Macpherson, its report detailing findings as to whether or not Chief Constable Patrick Geenty has a case to answer for either misconduct or gross misconduct and should face disciplinary proceedings.

"Wiltshire Police has been provided with the same report which also details the IPCC findings in relation to an inspector and a detective constable.

"The IPCC investigated the way all three officers dealt with complaints lodged in 2008 and 2009.

"Under police complaints procedure, it is now a matter for Mr Macpherson and the force respectively to respond with a decision on what action they propose to take as a result of our findings."

Mr Macpherson said today: “The IPCC investigation has identified that Mr Geenty has a potential case to answer for misconduct. I now need to take time to read the report, and I also await a bundle of supporting material from the IPCC.

"As Appropriate Authority I will need to go through it all in detail to determine whether I am in agreement with their findings, further to taking professional advice. I will give the IPCC my response as soon as I am able.

“It is not my intention to prevent Mr Geenty from retiring. There is no legal ground to do so, nor do I believe it is in the public interest to suspend him.

"The finding by the IPCC is of potential misconduct, not gross misconduct. He has reaffirmed that he will respond to any issues that arise if it is considered that there is a case to answer.

"Given that undertaking, his last day with Wiltshire Police will be Sunday, June 28.

“As Appropriate Authority for the other two officers involved - one of whom had been suspended from post and one of whom had been suspended from the organisation - Chief Constable Mike Veale, in line with complaints procedure and in light of the IPCC finding of potential misconduct for both officers, has carried out a suspension review. As a result of this formal review, the suspensions of both officers have been lifted.”