Insp Christopher Cropper of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) walked free on Monday after the case against him collapsed on a legal technicality.

Mr Cropper was arrested after colleagues noticed the smell of alcohol on him as he arrived for work.

The officer is not on active duty pending the outcome of the review.

'Absolutely disgusting'

John Sparrow of the Campaign Against Drinking and Driving (CADD) said: "It is absolutely disgusting. It is sending out the wrong message to the general public.

"I hope they find out what went wrong because if the police cannot organise their own affairs, how can they expect to deal with the public?"

Mr Cropper, 48, from Altrincham, was charged with drink driving but his solicitor Nick Freeman successfully argued that proper procedures had not been followed when Mr Cropper was arrested.

Mr Freeman said his client should have been cautioned before he was questioned.

Mr Cropper was subsequently acquitted on drink driving charges.

GMP said it will now consider whether or not there are any internal misconduct issues to address.