A DETECTIVE at the centre of a strippergram scandal has vowed to take his case to the Home Secretary after being forced out of his job.

Police bosses have asked DC Joe Scanlan to resign following a two-day inquiry headed by Chief Constable Pauline Clare. DC Scanlan, was one of three CID men based in Accrington, who have been disciplined after it was revealed stripper Thekla Roth staged a sex show at police headquarters in Hutton.

Lancashire's police federation chairman Paul Marsh, who has been advising DC Scanlan, DC Mark Shepherd and DC Phil Dawson throughout the inquiry, said: "Joe Scanlan intends to appeal to the Secretary of State over the findings of the inquiry. I have been present at the inquiry throughout and it is difficult to comment further because of the pending appeal. The Lancashire police force is a disciplined organisation and we expect disciplined behaviour from our members."

Blackburn MP and Home Secretary Jack Straw will make the final ruling on the case. Mark Shepherd was found guilty of discreditable conduct and lying to officers investigating the incident and was fined £1,000. The third officer involved, Phil Dawson, was fined £500 after admitting to discreditable conduct. And 60 to 70 officers from 15 different police forces were also disciplined with one man being demoted.

Dave Smith, the assistant chief constable of the Lancashire force led the investigation. He said: "Complaints came to us from various different sources about the original incident. This incident has brought discredit to the police force and the individual officers involved, particularly as it took place at the police headquarters.

"This sort of behaviour is something that we will do everything in our power to stamp out. We want to send out a clear message to our offices and to the people of Lancashire, bad behaviour of this kind has no place in the Lancashire Constabulary."

Phil Dawson and Mark Shepherd will return to work on Monday after being suspended for more than 10 months.

The wage bill for the three suspended officers has come to more than £60,000, but Dave Smith has defended the length of time of the investigation.

He said: "We had to interview officers from several forces. We had to make sure we had all the correct information before reaching a decision."

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