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| Cumbria Police acting chief constable in misconduct probe | Cumbria Police acting chief constable in misconduct probe |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A police chief criticised over the Poppi Worthington death probe is being investigated separately on allegations of misconduct and corruption in office. | |
| Acting chief constable Michelle Skeer is accused of "acting inappropriately" by dealing with a complaint involving her husband, who was a police officer. | |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has ordered the inquiry to be handed to another force. | |
| The claims were made by a woman who remains anonymous. | The claims were made by a woman who remains anonymous. |
| Mrs Skeer was assistant chief constable during the force's investigation into 13-month-old Poppi's death in Barrow-in-Furness in 2012. | |
| Cumbria Police was criticised by a family court judge for the way it investigated the case. | |
| Mr Justice Peter Jackson said there had been no real investigation into the toddler's death for nine months. | |
| 'Question of competence' | |
| Cumbria Police said it carried out an internal investigation into the separate misconduct and corruption allegations, but it was moved to another force under IPCC order. | |
| The inquiry was under way when Mrs Skeer was promoted in December to cover Chief Constable Jerry Graham, who is on sick leave. | The inquiry was under way when Mrs Skeer was promoted in December to cover Chief Constable Jerry Graham, who is on sick leave. |
| Cumbria's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Richard Rhodes told BBC North West Tonight he knew Mrs Skeer was under investigation when he promoted her. | Cumbria's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Richard Rhodes told BBC North West Tonight he knew Mrs Skeer was under investigation when he promoted her. |
| He said he did not ask for details about the allegations and insisted this was "normal procedure". | He said he did not ask for details about the allegations and insisted this was "normal procedure". |
| Mr Rhodes said: "The deputy was invited to step up. Now, why should I do anything else? | Mr Rhodes said: "The deputy was invited to step up. Now, why should I do anything else? |
| "If you've got a deputy, you trust the deputy, and in a temporary situation you invite her to take that job." | "If you've got a deputy, you trust the deputy, and in a temporary situation you invite her to take that job." |
| Barrow MP John Woodcock said: "The revelations here are extraordinarily serious. | Barrow MP John Woodcock said: "The revelations here are extraordinarily serious. |
| "Both for the fact that Michelle Skeer was allowed to take over the force, but also I have to say for the judgement of the PCC for apparently allowing this to happen and not asking the basic question of what the allegations were about over which she was being investigated by another force. | "Both for the fact that Michelle Skeer was allowed to take over the force, but also I have to say for the judgement of the PCC for apparently allowing this to happen and not asking the basic question of what the allegations were about over which she was being investigated by another force. |
| "To know that someone was under investigation and to not ask the question why, I'm afraid it does raise a basic question of competence and whether this was a negligently discharged decision." | "To know that someone was under investigation and to not ask the question why, I'm afraid it does raise a basic question of competence and whether this was a negligently discharged decision." |
| Mrs Skeer declined to comment. The investigation is ongoing. | Mrs Skeer declined to comment. The investigation is ongoing. |