Some of Britain's most senior police officers want official complaints about their conduct and behaviour to be kept secret.

The Chief Constables’ Council recently discussed moves that could be made to stop the public finding out about investigations into alleged corruption and misconduct.

Documents seen by The Mail on Sunday reveal that at a top-level meeting with the chairman of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, Dame Anne Owers, force leaders said it was ‘damaging’ for such accusations to be made public.

Probe: Britain's top policeman, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe (left), let Maxine De Brunner (right) retire and claim her full pension even though she was being probed for organising a costly police fun day at her son's private school

At the moment, when investigations into the highest-ranking officers are launched by police forces or the IPCC, the identities of those facing disciplinary action can be revealed.

But chiefs want their names to be kept out of the public domain until what they regard as an "appropriate" time. It could mean details of the claims against them remain secret for several years – or even concealed for ever if the charges are not proven.

Last night critics said it was a worrying development that would risk confidence in the police.

David Burrowes, a lawyer and MP on the Home Affairs Select Committee, said: ‘There are many people like doctors and politicians who are named when allegations are made against them, so I don’t think police officers should have a special rule. It’s very important that law enforcers aren’t treated differently.’

The IPCC says it is currently investigating eight top-ranking officers, from six forces across England and Wales.

At least six more chief constables, assistant chief constables or deputy chief constables are having their conduct scrutinised by external police forces.

A record of the July meeting of the high-level Chief Constables’ Council reveals their concerns, stating: ‘Press releases can be damaging… as the media will run with big stories. It may then transpire that there is no case to answer.

'This is in contradiction to how the system protects the names of proposed criminals and the IPCC process seems out of kilter.’

Dame Anne told the chiefs’ meeting that ‘further consideration is currently being given to the issue of naming in media releases’.

But sources say that the watchdog is unlikely to place a blanket ban on their identities being revealed.

A National Police Chiefs' Council spokesman said:

"At no point have police chiefs called for complaints against them to be kept secret or put forward any such request or proposal to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

"Chief constables discussed the police complaints system as part of a wider agenda item at their regular meeting in July. As part of this discussion, chiefs raised the impact of naming chief officers at the early stages of often lengthy investigations where there is found to be no case to answer. No demands or requests for changes of policy were made or recorded in the meeting minutes, which are publicly available on our website.