A POLICE chief has vowed to talk openly about a multi-million pound anti-corruption investigation.

Barry Shaw, Chief Constable of Cleveland Police gave the pledge, to speak about the long-running Operation Lancet, yesterday.

He gave his word after being challenged at a meeting of the Cleveland Police Authority following the release of a four-line report on the costs of the controversial inquiry.

The report puts the overall costs of the inquiry at £3.232m.

He said: "When, at last, matters can be put into the public domain, then I shall be delighted that we have reached that stage and we can provide for the first time factual information, not information drip fed into the media, some of which is correct, butsome of which is undoubtedly incorrect.''

Some commentators, including MP Ashok Kumar, have previously claimed the total cost of Lancet could reach as high as £7m.

Mr Shaw said that, while the official investigation was over, disciplinary processes involving police officers were not. He said files were still being considered by the Crown Prosecution Service, "who may require some additional work in this area.''

He said: "There is a legal process to follow, set down by Parliament, and we are prisoners of the system."

His reassurance that Lancet issues will be discussed in public was echoed by Councillor Ken Walker, chairman of Cleveland Police Authority.

Alf Illingworth, a magistrate member of the police authority, said: "This is a major issue which should have a very open and transparent and logical presentation and debate.''

Colleague, Councillor Ian Jeffrey described the four-line breakdown of costs circulated at the meeting "skimpy".

He said: "I think I would want to tell the author of this report to go away and write a proper one.''