THE ex-detective who sparked the probe into the Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw's expenses queried the time taken to conclude it.

Chorley Conservative councillor Sam Chapman said that he was ‘surprised’ at the eight months it has taken investigators so far.

Blackburn MP Jack Straw and the Burnley Liberal Democrat Gordon Birtwistle had also urged the Independent Police Complaints Commission to conclude its considerations quickly for the good of Mr Grunshaw and the public who had voted him in.

The commissioner had referred himself to the IPCC after claims that he ‘double claimed’ mileage expenses despite the possibility that he could face criminal charges if it found against him.

Coun Chapman alleges that Mr Grunshaw had claimed two sets of mileage expenses for meetings of both Lancashire County Council and the police authority in Preston on the same days.

Yesterday Coun Chapman said: “I am surprised about how long it has taken but I would rather they did a thorough job.”

A spokesman for the IPCC said: “ We can’t put a time limit on investigations, that’s the nature of the work”.

Mr Grunshaw said: “I am not able to comment on the investigation itself, but I can confirm that I have complied fully with the investigative process and I am looking forward to a swift conclusion.”