A PANEL of senior Scotland Yard officers and prosecutors will meet next week to decide what action to take over claims MPs misused parliamentary expenses.

Officials will assess whether criminal inquiries are necessary in the wake of a surge in the number of complaints from members of the public.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson and Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer decided to establish the panel, a spokesman said.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Metropolitan Police issued a joint statement today.

The move followed several days of speculation as to whether any criminal inquiries would be launched.

It said: "Before the recent media exposure about alleged misuse of parliamentary expenses, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner instigated meetings between the Metropolitan Police and CPS in relation to a number of allegations made to police.

"Due to the increase in subsequent allegations received by the Metropolitan Police, the Commissioner and Director of Public Prosecutions have jointly decided to convene a panel to assess allegations in order to decide whether criminal investigations should be started.

"A panel, comprising officers and a senior CPS lawyer, will commence a series of meetings next week.

Calls for MPs to face a criminal investigation over their expenses and allowances were joined today by former police chief Ray Mallon.

Mr Mallon, the directly-elected mayor of Middlesbrough, believes there is enough evidence for MPs to be investigated for potential breach of the Theft Act or for other crimes, such as false accounting.