SIX serving police officers are being criminally investigated as part of a probe into the force's north Child Abuse Investigation Team.

The alleged offences include misconduct in public office and perverting the course of justice.

As part of the investigation, the Independent Police Complaints Commission has warned a total of 29 serving and former force personnel they are being investigated.

Some 25 are serving officers.

Twenty-two of the notices allege gross misconduct and seven relate to alleged misconduct matters.

These include:

• failing to make reasonable enquiries and progress investigations

• failing to address victim safeguarding

• concerns regarding honesty and integrity issues in relation to how some investigations were carried out.

The police watchdog is investigating 49 separate incidents which were handled by the abuse team which covers victims from Colchester, Tendring and mid-Essex.

Each were reported between 2011 and 2015 and include rape allegations and sex abuse against “very young” children.

Essex Police Deputy Chief Constable Derek Benson said: “Essex Police will continue to cooperate fully with these investigations.

“These investigations relate to issues we identified and referred to the IPCC.

“We took a number of immediate actions to put things right and will work with the IPCC to identify where further improvements need to be made.”

The force is working with childrens’ charities to “ensure the force gets expert, independent advice and the changes we have made to the way we investigate child abuse cases mean that our investigations will be of the highest standards possible.”

Nick Alston, Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said: "As Police and Crime Commissioner, I will continue to be entirely open and clear with the people of Essex about the importance of protecting our children and other vulnerable members of our communities.

"The trauma of child abuse is unimaginable to most of us, but the legacy it leaves with victims who have suffered it is life-long.”

He added: “I am sure that people will be concerned to learn that the IPCC has served further misconduct and gross misconduct notices on serving and former Essex Police personnel and that six officers will now be subject to a criminal investigation.

"The force has rightly treated this matter seriously and I have been kept closely informed of the progress of the review by the Chief Constable.

"The 49 cases which are being investigated by Essex Police are a small fraction of the number of child abuse investigations carried out by the force."