However, an individual can also be guilty of misconduct in a public office if they use their position to instigate “sexual or inappropriate relationships”, according to Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) guidelines.
Prosecutors must then prove that the alleged misconduct amounted to a “wilful abuse of power”.
The police are also understood to be considering investigating potential corruption and fraud offences that could constitute misconduct in public office.
Police ‘committed to thorough investigation’
Asst Chief Constable Oliver Wright said: “Misconduct in public office is a crime that can take different forms, making this a complex investigation.
“Our team of very experienced detectives are working meticulously through a significant amount of information that has come in from the public and other sources.
“We are committed to conducting a thorough investigation into all reasonable lines of enquiry, wherever they may lead.
“We encourage anyone with information to get in touch with us through the normal non-urgent contact channels, such as the Thames Valley Police online portal.
“I understand the high level of interest in this work, but please be patient as we continue to actively progress our investigation.”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.telegraph.co.uk ’
