Huntley worked at a school, despite underage sex claims

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire Police - one of the forces being investigated - said the findings were likely to be announced "early in the New Year".

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary is leading the inquiry.

It aims to establish why Huntley was able to work at a school, despite previous rape and underage sex claims.

"We are not expecting this inquiry to take long," said the police spokesman.

"We would expect it to have been completed early in the New Year."

Police failings

Last week, Huntley was convicted of the murders of 10-year-olds Holly Wells are Jessica Chapman.

In total, three inquiries are under way into the events surrounding their murders.

One examines the vetting procedures that allowed Huntley to get a job as a school caretaker.

The police and social services are also carrying out investigations into their roles in the case.

The police inquiry will look at what parts were played by Humberside and Cambridgeshire forces.

Police interviewed Huntley 10 times in the 1990s over accusations of having sex with underage girls and alleged rapes.

But this did not prevent him taking a job as a school caretaker.