THREE Bolton police officers have been cleared of gross misconduct following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct

The officers were accused of using excessive force and injuring a suspect during an arrest in Bolton in November 2015.

But, following a misconduct hearing at Greater Manchester Police headquarters last week, the officers, temporary Sgt William Jennings-Wharton, PC Alex Merrett and PC Phillip Ng’Andu were cleared.

The incident was investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct after a complaint was made about the officers’ actions.

A man they arrested for assault, which he was subsequently found not guilty of, alleged he had suffered facial fractures and injuries to his shoulder and wrist, which required hospital treatment, as officers detained him.

Following the conclusion of the misconduct hearing an IOPC statement, said: “We investigated the actions of six officers during the arrest and detention of the man on allegations of assault. Our investigation was suspended shortly after the man’s arrest in order to avoid prejudicing the criminal trial. Following his acquittal in July 2016 we resumed our investigation, and it was completed in July 2017.

“Our investigation found evidence of a case to answer for gross misconduct for temporary police sergeant William Jennings-Wharton, police constable Alex Merrett and police constable Phillip Ng’Andu.

“Our evidence was sent to the Crown Prosecution Service who made the decision not to charge the three officers in December last year. Our report was then shared with the force who, in April this year, agreed to hold gross misconduct proceedings.

“An independent panel concluded that the case against officers was not proven.”