Source: Telegraph, The (UK) Contact: Sat, 26 Sep 1998 Author: Paul Stokes 39 OFFICERS ACCUSED AS CID INQUIRY CONTINUES A TOTAL of 286 individual allegations are being investigated against 39 detectives in a squad credited with cutting crime through "zero tolerance" policing. The scale of Operation Lancet, set up a year ago to investigate Middlesbrough CID, was disclosed by the Police Complaints Authority. Last year, the department attracted praise from Tony Blair and Jack Straw, the Home Secretary, and Michael Howard, his Conservative predecessor. Its high profile owed much to the publicity offensive of Det Supt Ray Mallon, who pledged to resign his post as head of the department if he failed to cut crime by a fifth in 18 months. His zero tolerance approach, used successfully in America, involved targeting house burglaries and anti-social crimes and brought stark results in reducing offences. In the event, Supt Mallon's pledge was never fully tested because of his suspension last December as part of the Lancet inquiry. He is one of seven Middlesbrough detectives currently suspended and has been accused of leaking information and "alleged activity that could be construed as criminal", all of which he vehemently denies. Yesterday, the Police Complaints Authority said that 11 files concerning the alleged misuse of drugs by detectives have now been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service to decide whether officers should be charged. The files are understood to relate to five detective constables. It is not known to which officers they refer but Det Supt Mallon is not believed to be one of them. A further 32 files covering drugs-related issues will be sent to the CPS. Lancet is also investigating other claims, including that suspects were beaten up by detectives and that payments to informants were not conducted properly. Tony Williams, a member of the Police Complaints Authority said: "There are 45 police officers and staff working on the inquiry. They are investigating 286 allegations which have been made against 39 officers." The authority was criticised earlier this year when a costly inquiry into the Humberside force ended without any charges being brought. That inquiry into allegations of child abuse led to 20 officers being investigated over six years at a cost to the public of UKP4 million. Lancet has also attracted criticism with its cost already thought to be in excess of UKP1 million at a time when the Cleveland force involved is having to make savings, including not replacing officers who leave. Crime in Middlesbrough has also gone up since Lancet began, with burglaries up 36 per cent on last year. Supt Mallon said: "My position remains the same as it did when I was suspended. I have not committed any offence. Ten months on I am still waiting for Lancet to interview me on the matters for which I was suspended, allegations I strenuously deny. Following consultation with my solicitor, Mike Hymanson, I can confirm that no allegations in relation to drugs have been levelled against me and neither of us has received information that a file of any kind concerning me has been sent to the CPS." One of the operation's critics, Bob Pitt, a Middlesbrough councillor and former police authority member, said: "I believe this inquiry has lost its way. It is undermining the morale of the police and public confidence in the force of law and order." - --- Checked-by: Rich O'Grady