Nick Gargan, who is accused of inappropriate behaviour towards women, to be interviewed under caution about alleged breaches

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

A chief constable accused of making inappropriate advances toward younger female officers and staff is to be questioned under criminal caution for allegedly breaching data-protection laws to access information.

Nick Gargan, the chief constable of Avon and Somerset police and a former head of the National Policing Improvement Agency, was once tipped as a possible Metropolitan police commissioner. He is currently suspended and under criminal investigation.

Inquiries by the Independent Police Complaints Commission began after two whistleblowers concerns about his allegedly inappropriate behaviour to women in more junior roles – both officers and staff members. Investigators have interviewed 50 people – including a number of female officers – and examined a large amount of computer and phone data.

On Friday, the deputy chair of the police watchdog, Rachel Cerfontyne, said: "The IPCC has uncovered evidence that the chief constable may have breached the Data Protection Act by sending emails concerning police business, some of which contained personal data, to individuals unconnected with the force.

"Mr Gargan has now been served with a notice informing him that this aspect of his conduct is subject to a criminal investigation."

The IPCC added that he was to be interviewed under caution in the near future.

Last month Gargan was under the impression that he would not be facing a criminal investigation over his alleged behaviour.

A statement issued in June by the Chief Police Officers Staff Association on his behalf said Gargan was aware the IPCC planned to interview him but he had been told the behaviour under investigation was not as serious as originally thought, and was not being investigated as a criminal matter.

But on 1 July Cerfontyne told Mountstevens that investigators had examined a large amount of computer and phone data and uncovered evidence that he might have breached the Data Protection Act, which is a criminal offence.

Gargan also faces questioning over the disciplinary offence of gross misconduct in relation to his alleged inappropriate advances toward a number of female officers and staff.