The following statement has been issued today by Cleveland Police Authority:
"Cleveland Police Authority can confirm that it has been made aware of potential conduct matters involving chief officers of Cleveland Police.
The Authority is the appropriate authority for recording and considering these matters and is now following the prescribed processes and procedures.
The Authority can confirm that two Chief Officers have been suspended from their posts with Cleveland Police while the investigations are being considered. It should be emphasised that suspension is a neutral act and it should not be inferred from the decision to suspend that the potential conduct matters have been proven in respect to the two chief officers concerned.
The Authority has taken the decision to refer these matters to the Independent Police Complaints Commission."