No charges over Stephen Beattie 'botched' police cases review
A police scenes of crime officer who was accused of potentially botching hundreds of cases will not face any criminal action, the BBC has learned.
Stephen Beattie, 50, allegedly lied about his qualifications while working for Cleveland Police and earlier the Staffordshire and Northumbria forces.
But after a four-year investigation by the police watchdog, it has emerged he will not face any criminal charges.
An Independent Police Complaints Commission report is due out in March.
More than 350 cases, including 141 suspicious deaths and 214 arsons, were reviewed during the commission's investigation.
Of those, 16 were passed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for it to consider potential charges.
A spokesman said it had taken into account the "limited effect" of Beattie's actions, a police caution he was given and the termination of his employment.
He added that it was not deemed to be in the public interest to bring a further criminal charge at public expense.
Mr Beattie was suspended by Cleveland Police in 2011 and resigned later that year.