DISGRACED East Lancashire police officers have been charged with discreditable conduct following an incident at a raunchy strippergram show.

The Police Complaints Authority ruled that 22 officers should face disciplinary proceedings over alleged indecency at a show held at Lancashire Constabulary's Hutton headquarters last February.

Stripper Thekla Roth, 18, was booked to appear in the training room at a birthday party for Accrington detective Joe Scanlan.

He was suspended along with Accrington colleagues Phil Dawson and Mark Shepherd and other officers from across England after bosses received a complaint from a woman officer that they were "engaged in or acquiesced to unacceptable behaviour with a female stripper."

The PCA says all three are to be charged with discreditable conduct. One of them will be further charged with two counts of falsehood and prevarication.

The other two are to be given "advice" - a lower form of disciplinary action where attempts are made to ensure errors are not repeated.

A Lancashire police spokesman said: "Arrangements are in hand for the three officers concerned to appear at a disciplinary hearing before the chief constable, Pauline Clare. They remain suspended from duty." Lancashire Police Federation secretary Colin Berry said: "It's been a stressful time for the three officers, their families and friends, and they may now be glad that this conclusion has been reached.

"The Federation will now be able to provide them with legal advice for their defence when they appear before the chief constable."

PCA member Caroline Mitchell, who examined the case, said: "Having carefully examined all the evidence and considered the recommendations submitted by the forces, I have agreed that formal charges should be brought against six officers and less formal action against 16 others. This has been an unusual investigation in that it has involved police forces throughout England.

"Officers from Fife, Isle of Man and the Royal Ulster Constabulary were also present at the scene of the incident.

"The involvement of officers from these forces was included in the investigation at the request of the forces involved.

A copy of a video shot by Brian Grove, boss of Lancaster-based Crazy Girls, which provided the strippergram, has been seen by Lancashire police chiefs and the PCA. Officers from other forces, including a chief inspector, also face action;

Cleveland, two officers charged with discreditable conduct. A further three to be given advice.

Cumbria, one to be charged with discreditable conduct and two more advice.

Devon and Cornwall, one officer to be given advice.

Essex, one officer to be given advice.

Humberside, one officer to be given advice.

Metropolitan Police Service, one officer to be admonished, the most serious form of disciplinary action, short of a formal charge.

Northamptonshire, two officers to be given advice.

Staffordshire, one officer to be given advice.

West Mercia. one officer will be admonished.

West Yorkshire, one officer to be given advice.

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