Paul Massey, the ­underworld “Mr Big”, was ­murdered in the driveway of his home in Salford two years ago

A former chief constable of Greater Manchester Police today called for an independent body to examine all corruption complaints after revelations in The Times that officers were accused of taking bribes from an organised crime gang.

Sir Peter Fahy, who retired two years ago from GMP, said a separate complaints body would be “healthier” for both the police service and the public.

He was speaking after this newspaper revealed that a £3.5 million inquiry into one of Britain’s most notorious crime gangs collapsed after multiple claims of police corruption.

GMP officers were accused of taking bribes from associates of Paul Massey, the underworld “Mr Big” who was murdered in Salford two years ago. The allegations emerged during Operation Holly, a five-year inquiry into money laundering,