A NINTH police officer is to face disciplinary charges as a result of a long-running anti-corruption inquiry, the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) revealed last night.

The Cleveland officer, who has not been suspended, will face two disciplinary allegations of neglect of duty following the Operation Lancet inquiry.

The officer will have legal representation at the hearing, which will be led by a chief constable from another force, although no date has yet been fixed, a PCA spokesman confirmed. The four-and-a-half-year inquiry is estimated to have already cost about £6m.

The announcement was described as "a bolt out of the blue" by Ashok Kumar, the MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, last night.

He wants Cleveland Police Authority to ask detailed and searching questions about this latest development at a meeting next week.

The PCA said that the charges had been put to the officer in agreement with Cleveland Police, who are refusing to comment on the development.

Two superintendents, including Ray Mallon, the suspended former head of Middlesbrough CID, face a total of 18 disciplinary charges between them. Six lower-ranking officers face a total of 38 charges.

News of allegations against a ninth police officer comes on the eve of the fourth anniversary of Operation Lancet, which came to an end earlier this year, but for the internal disciplinary hearings at force headquarters.

Dr Kumar said: "I just don't understand what is going on, although I think most people have now switched off in regard to Cleveland Police and what is happening systematically to one officer after another."

He added: "I think Chief Constable Barry Shaw has some explaining to do regarding this matter as to why, when previously officers have been suspended from duty, this one has not. We were told Lancet was completed, but here is an example that it is not."

Dr Kumar, together with Redcar MP Vera Baird, recently called on Home Secretary David Blunkett to order a public inquiry into Lancet.

Lancet led to 400-plus allegations being brought against more than 60 police officers. None of the officers will face criminal charges.