A senior police officer accused of lying to detain an anti-fracking campaigner should face a charge of gross misconduct, the police watchdog has found.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) reached its conclusion after video of Dr Steven Peers’ arrest appeared on the M.E.N. website .

The footage shows Inspector David Kehoe, from Greater Manchester Police , making drink-drive allegations against Dr Peers during the anti-fracking demonstration at Barton Moss, in Eccles, Salford.

The environmental campaigner denies drinking alcohol – saying he is a pedestrian and had only drunk tea that morning.

Video: Footage of Dr Peers being arrested

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But, as colleagues gather round, Insp Kehoe says: “You’ve had a drink this morning. Where’s your car...You’ve just said to me you’ve had two drinks.”

Insp Kehoe then asks two other officers to breathalyse Dr Peers, who is arrested for refusing to take the test.

GMP later charged the environmental campaigner but the case fell apart at court when prosecutors decided there was insufficient evidence to proceed.

The 47-year-old complained to the force about the arrest – claiming the footage, which he took, showed Insp Kehoe lying to make the drink-drive allegations against him. He also alleged another officer had assaulted him.

(Image: Andy Lambert)

Both officers were cleared of wrongdoing in an internal GMP probe – so Dr Peers called in the IPCC to reinvestigate the claims.

Now the police watchdog has found Insp Kehoe should face a gross misconduct hearing.

In an email, IPCC lead investigator David Doodson said: “I can confirm that I have recommended a case to answer for gross misconduct against the officer who initiated the drink drive procedure with Dr Peers and authorised the seizure of his property at custody.”

Mr Doodson concluded the officer who allegedly used ‘excessive force’ should face no further action.

The protest, against test drilling for shale gas carried out by energy company IGas at Barton Moss last year, became known for angry confrontations between police and protesters.

GMP arrested 120 people – although more than half of those dealt with so far have been cleared of wrongdoing.

Father-of-four Dr Peers, from New Moston , was arrested in January last year while filming the demonstration as a self-styled ‘legal observer’.

It is understood Insp Kehoe has not been suspended while the investigation into the incident has been on-going and continues to work for GMP.

Dr Peers, an electrical engineer with a doctorate in metaphysical sciences, said: “After over a year and a half of GMP attempting to excuse their unlawful arrests on Barton Moss, it is inexcusable that this officer should remain on duty despite a recommendation from the IPCC that he should face charges for gross misconduct.”

A spokesman for the police watchdog confirmed the gross misconduct conclusion over the arrest of Dr Peers.

In pictures: Anti-fracking protest at Barton Moss

He added: “We have shared these findings with GMP and are currently considering their response.”

A GMP spokeswoman said: “Greater Manchester Police has received the recommendations made by the IPCC following their investigation into this matter.

“We have responded to the IPCC with a number of observations in relation to their decision making and we are still awaiting a response from the IPCC to our representations.”

A spokesman for the Greater Manchester Police Federation, the association which represents officers, said: “We reject the recommendations made by the IPCC in the strongest possible terms.

“We remain wholeheartedly supportive of the officer. We welcome negotiations between the Force and the IPCC and we hope that we can all work together to find a suitable outcome.”