POLICE officers in Bedfordshire are the best behaved in the eastern region. Chief Constable Gillian Parker s report will inform members of the Bedfordshire Police Authority s complaints and professional standards committee tomorrow (Friday) of the good ne

POLICE officers in Bedfordshire are the best behaved in the eastern region.

Chief Constable Gillian Parker's report will inform members of the Bedfordshire Police Authority's complaints and professional standards committee tomorrow (Friday) of the good news.

According to the latest figures from a report on professional standards by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabularies, there were 293 complaints against Bedfordshire officers between April and December last year.

Meanwhile, Hertfordshire, which has one of the largest forces in the region, is third highest in the complaints league with 526 complaints over the same period. Top was Norfolk with 665 complaints.

Congratulating the Bedfordshire force, Sue Alexander, chairman of the authority's professional standards committee, said: "This is very positive news and proves we do not tolerate corruption or poor conduct of any kind within Bedfordshire police.

"The public should have confidence in the fact that if they report any matters that concern them regarding the conduct of officers and staff in Bedfordshire police, their concerns will be investigated professionally and quickly.

"Therefore we are committed to the ongoing development of professional standards in the force."

Authority members will be told that in the constabulary's B division, which covers Mid Beds, there were 83 complaints against officers, three against special constables and another eight against police staff.

Throughout the county constabulary three officers, two special constables and one civilian member of staff are suspended from duty and another fourteen officers are on restricted duties.

Since last April, Bedfordshire Constabulary has paid out £25,142.33 in civil litigation costs and over £4,000 in legal fees.

One civil claim for assault resulted in a pay-out of £13,250, another for negligence of £10,750, one for false imprisonment of £794.65 and one for damage to property of £347.68.

Hertfordshire Police Authority say their complaints and disciplinary figures will be discussed at its next professional standards working group on February 3. Until then they are declining to comment on matters of officers or civilian staff suspended or on restricted duties.

An authority spokesman said: "On the matter of officers/civilian staff suspended from duty or on restricted duties, although the authority is aware of the figures they are not in the public domain.

"As far as comparisons with other forces are concerned, I think that the complaint per officer is the only real method as Bedfordshire has 1,945 officers and staff whereas Hertfordshire has 3,559 which is 83 per cent more.

"The authority is due to receive the October/December figures on February 3 so until then we cannot provide outstanding figures.