WILTSHIRE’S top police officer has announced he will retire from the force in May in the midst of an ongoing investigation into the way he handled historic sexual abuse allegations.

In September the Independent Police Complaints Commission launched an inquiry into an alleged cover-up of information regarding allegations made in 2008 and 2009, which included looking at the conduct of Chief Constable Pat Geenty.

It was said that in 2009, a then detective inspector and detective constable, having examined the way the force dealt with the sexual abuse allegations, withheld information from the complainants as to the extent of the force’s failings.

It is also alleged Mr Geenty, then the Assistant Chief Constable, withheld information and misled the complainants. The investigation is proceeding but if Mr Geenty is no longer a serving officer by the time they report their findings, he will not be subject to a gross misconduct panel.

A spokesman for the IPCC said further interviews will be conducted in relation to Mr Geenty and the two other officers.

“Our investigation is ongoing. All three officers were served with gross misconduct notices in September 2014 and were interviewed by IPCC investigators the following month, “ the inspector said.

“Our inquiries continue and further interviews will take place in the near future.”

Mr Geenty will have been in his position for just two years upon retirement, making him the shortest serving chief constable in two decades and the fourth holder of the job in little more then ten years.

He had been on a five-year contract and was earning an estimated £133,000 a year.

He joined Wiltshire Police in July 2009 and was appointed substantive chief constable of the force in May 2012 after six months as acting chief.

“Policing has been a fundamental part of my life for the past 33 years so this has been an extremely difficult decision for me to make,” he said, announcing his retirement today.

“However, after considerable soul-searching, I feel confident that this is the right thing for me to do. I am entirely certain that I am leaving the force in capable hands and wish to reassure the public that there is a clear plan for the future of Wiltshire Police.”

Angus Macpherson, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, said: “Firstly, I would like to thank Mr Geenty for his hard work, professionalism and total commitment to his role as Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police.

“While I am personally disappointed to be losing an exceptional officer and leader, I understand and fully respect his decision to retire. I will now begin to consider the continuity plan for the force to ensure that Wiltshire Police are able to maintain consistency in leadership.”