Police inquiry into sex assaults

A major police inquiry was launched yesterday into allegations that a serving officer carried out a string of sexual assaults on women.

The investigation, by Cleveland Police, is headed by Detective Chief Inspector Dave Martin of the force's Complaints and Discipline Department. The force has called in the Police Complaints Authority to supervise the inquiry. A police spokesman said: "I can confirm that an officer has been suspended pending an investigation into an alleged series of sexual assaults. No charges have yet been made against the officer, who has been released on bail."