THIRTY-FIVE Merseyside Police staff are to be investigated following the discovery of alleged pornographic, racist and homophobic emails on their work computers.

Twenty-two members of the group are police officers and the remainder are employed as support staff.

Assistant Chief Constable Grahame Barker, who is leading the inquiry, said: "Most people who have received these emails have deleted them straight away, but there are a core of individuals who have allegedly sent grossly offensive emails to colleagues or kept them on their system.

"These emails are offensive either in terms of their racist, homophobic or sexual content and we will not allow them to infiltrate into offices or stations."

Merseyside Police's new Chief Constable, Bernard Hogan-Howe, launched the professional standards investigation with the full support of the Police Federation and Black Police Association.

The matter has also been voluntarily referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission to provide an independent perspective on the investigation and possible sanctions.

Mr Barker added: "Our attention was drawn to the emails through our IT monitoring system which sparked an immediate internal inquiry.

"There is absolutely no room in this organisation for inappropriate communication. Just to be in possession of an email of this type is a serious breach of our standards and to forward them on is absolutely unacceptable.

"While this investigation continues, however, stringent measures will be put in place to regularly audit emails and all 6,200 staff reminded of their responsibility to communicate with integrity and responsibility."

Inspector Irene Afful, chairman of Merseyside Black Police Association, said: "We welcome the action taken by the chief officers.

"Literature of this nature is offensive and has no place in a professional organisation such as Merseyside Police.

"We wish to maintain the highest standards of the majority of officers and police staff in this organisation, and we are working in partnership with Merseyside Police to root out discriminatory behaviour whether that be of a racist, sexist or homophobic nature."