POLICE watchdogs have claimed the behaviour of some male officers is damaging the reputation of the profession after two former Lancashire officers won their sex bias case.

The Police Complaints Authority (PCA), an independent body which supervises police investigations into complaints, says it is concerned at the number of sexual abuse and harassment cases brought against men in forces across the country.

This week it was revealed that two former Lancashire Constabulary officers successfully claimed at a tribunal that they had been ritually humiliated by male colleagues.

Lancashire police is now waiting to discover how much compensation it will have to pay out.

Caroline Arrowsmith, previously from Blackburn, and Laura Burman, previously from Accrington, took their case against Chief Constable Pauline Clare to a tribunal in Manchester more than two years ago after claiming they were less favourably treated at work because of their sex.

They claimed their lives were made a misery by colleagues, branded the 'East Lancashire Mafia.'

In its annual report, the chairman of the Police Complaints Authority Sir Alistair Graham said: "We regret to report that some male officers' behaviour continues to damage the reputation of the police service.

"We see it not only in the cases that we supervise and review, but also in the reports of tribunals hearing claims brought by women working in the service.

"Allegations of harassment and sexual assault go to the core of confidence in policing." At a ten-day hearing in Manchester in April, 1999, Detective Constable Arrowsmith, who retired on medical grounds the previous year, said she was repeatedly subjected to lewd and offensive comments, excluded from conversations and made to feel 'useless and isolated.'

She said she was upset by a poster of a nude woman and at comments made by colleagues about women's breasts.

Former Detective Constable Burman, who now lives in Essex, said she was upset by sexual language and innuendo used by male officers.

Lancashire Constabulary have promised to look at the case to see if any lessons could be learned. They are currently waiting to hear how much compensation they will have to pay.

There are no plans for any further action against the male officers involved in the complaint.

Steve Edwards, chairman of the Lancashire Police Federation, said: "It is our role to support all our members."