THE Independent Police Complaints Commission has taken charge of the investigation into alleged misconduct by Blackburn politician Ibrahim Master.

The Lancashire Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner denies doing anything wrong following a domestic incident in the town.

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Chief Constable Steve Finnigan made the original complaint about Mr Master’s behaviour after his officers interviewed him in August.

Yesterday an IPCC spokesman said: “An investigation into the deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire, Ibrahim Master, is to be managed by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

“The investigation, which will be carried out by Lancashire Constabulary under the direction and control of the IPCC, will examine allegations of harassment and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

“The investigation will be overseen by IPCC Commissioner Derrick Campbell.”

Mr Master, 56, said: “I welcome this investigation by the IPCC.

“However, I expected the IPCC to be involved from a much earlier stage because my understanding is that Lancashire Constabulary should not have conducted the investigation without reference to the IPCC first. I expect and hope that the IPCC will now conduct a more proportionate, fair and impartial hearing into my conduct.

“ I fully expect to be vindicated at the end of all this.

“The complaint to the IPCC contains a number of inaccuracies and inconsistencies and had been formulated at an early stage of the Police investigation, which I understand has subsequently produced information which undermines and contradicts a number of the grounds of complaint against me in the Chief Constable’s complaint.”