POLICE officers accused of brutality and lying in court after the collapse of an assault case have been cleared by an independent inquiry.

The probe was launched after district Judge Paul Firth threw out charges of assaulting a police officer and threatening behaviour against 29-year-old Patrick Creaney, of Topaz Street, Roe Lee, at Blackburn Magistrates Court last August.

But an inquiry by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) published today has found that officers followed normal procedures during the arrest and there was no evidence that the officers involved were not truthful.

Superintendent Warren Turner, operations manager for Eastern Division of Lancashire Police, said: "We welcome the findings of this independent report and are satisfied with the outcome. Our officers are incredibly professionalism and we are pleased that their integrity is no longer in question."

Eliot Taylforth, who was Mr Creaney's solicitor, but now works for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "I am sure that everyone has done their job properly and I am happy to go along with any decision that has been made."

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, who said after the case that if police officers were found guilty of misconduct they should face prosecution and severe penalties, said: "There has been a full and thorough inquiry and the police officers have been cleared and its time to draw a line under the case.

"But clearly there are lessons to be learned by officers about ensuring that their evidence is credible."

IPCC Commissioner Deborah Glass, who has written to District Judge Firth, said: "It is apparent that there are differences in the evidence of both police and non-police witnesses, which is not unusual in public order situations. There is, however, no evidence that any officer deliberately misled the court.

"It was alleged that the officers were like 'a pack of dogs.' The investigation has shown that the officers followed normal procedures to make the arrest.

"The investigation found no evidence whatsoever to support the allegations that officers had in any way deliberately misled or lied to the court. The record must be set straight because the officers have suffered considerably from the adverse reporting that occurred."

Patrick Creaney was arrested in December 2002 for public order offences and assaulting a police officer. He made a complaint via his solicitors in February 2003 that he had been assaulted during his arrest. After the trial had ended, Judge Firth said the defence version of events, including allegations of police brutality towards Mr Creaney, were "wholly disturbing."

He said: "It follows, as sure as night follows day, that the police have not told me the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth."

Mr Creaney withdrew his complaint and declined to provide a statement for the investigation.

His solicitors agreed to provide statements from four witnesses and three other witnesses were also spoken to.

Notes from the trial were obtained and a report obtained from the Senior Crown Prosecutor. All relevant police records were gathered as well as the prosecution file.

Medical evidence was obtained on Mr Creaney's injuries. Five police officers were interviewed under caution in response to the allegations but were not suspended during the inquiry.

Evidence was obtained from the CCTV operator present on the night and an independent police expert on officer safety training commented on the officers' use of force.

Judge Firth was unavailable to comment as he his currently off work due to sickness.

The judicial system is governed by the Department for Constitutional Affairs. A spokesman said: "It was not within our remit to comment but I suggest contacting the Law Society."

A spokeswoman for the Law Society, said: "We do not comment on individual cases."