POLICE chiefs have confirmed that they are investigating allegations that some crime detection figures were fraudulent.

Greater Manchester Police said that detection rates in one of its sub-divisions last year had been "significantly better" than other areas, especially for burglaries.

But when the figures from Stockport were examined concerns were raised over the way the results had been achieved.

An internal inquiry has been under way since last year. The force said that a report would be handed to the police authority and the Crown Prosecution Service.

The sub-division has already been reorganised and some officers moved, said the force, which admitted that the allegations were "embarrassing".

It is understood the major investigation centres on allegations that hundreds of unsolved burglaries were wrongly attributed to criminals facing sentencing for other crimes, as having been "taken into consideration".

Deputy Chief Constable David McCrone said of the investigation: "Greater Manchester Police has been at the forefront of calling for accurate and standardised national crime recording and it has been embarrassing to find ourselves in the position of having to investigate allegedly fraudulent crime detection practices within our force."

The force, the largest in England outside London, has appointed a senior officer to head the inquiry.

Mr McCrone said: "I have ordered a reorganisation of the Stockport sub-division and as a result there will be some changes in personnel. I would like to stress, however, that the movement of officers does not pre-judge the outcome of any investigation, but does demonstrate the need for a fresh impetus at Stockport."