THE row over a television programme which investigated a series of allegations about assault claims made against Gwent Police rumbles on today.

Last night's Wales This Week programme on HTV investigated a series of assault claims made against Gwent Police.

One case concerned two Gwent men facing charges related to a late-night incident in a local town.

One of the two alleged he had been assaulted by the police and that CS spray had been used without warning.

HTV alleged the men were offered a deal by a Crown Prosecution Service lawyer in which no evidence would be offered against them in return for the allegation of assault by the officer being dropped.

The head of Gwent's CPS, Chris Woolley, said an investigation into the case was under way.

He said: "This investigation was begun on receipt of information by the CPS that the case had been dropped allegedly on the undertaking (of one of the men) that he would not pursue his complaint against the police. Until this is complete the CPS cannot comment.

"It can, however, be stated that it is not the policy of the CPS to drop cases in response to any offer by the defence to abandon complaints against the police. The CPS has no role whatsoever in police disciplinary matters."

Mr Woolley told the Argus that Gwent CPS had no involvement in complaints against Gwent Police, even if they became the subject of criminal prosecutions. Such cases were dealt with by North Wales CPS.

In last night's programme, former West Midlands chief superintendent Douglas Sharp, a former member of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, claimed the alleged deal amounted to an attempt to pervert the course of justice.

It also featured a case first reported by the Argus earlier this year - the jailing of PC Christopher Timmins for assaulting Gwent boxing champion Bradley Pryce.

A Police Complaints Authority spokesman said the case was the only one highlighted in the programme which it had had any involvement with.

Since PC Timmins' conviction the authority had agreed with the force that he should face a misconduct hearing.

The spokesman said the PCA had been shown documents which backed up the claims made about a deal in the court case discussed in the programme.

"Based on that, we said if such a deal had been offered it would appear totally unethical," he said.

Mr Bryan Davies, deputy chief constable of Gwent, said: "Gwent Police can confirm that all inquiries that were highlighted on the Wales This Week programme are already being investigated.

"Gwent Police openly discussed with the programme makers all issues in relation to complaints which included the effects of complaints on officers and the difficulties in investigating such matters.

"These clearly weren't broadcast. The inclusion of such would have presented a more balanced view."