POLICE have apologised for failings in the way they investigated allegations that civic chiefs launched an attempt to turn a village green into allotments.

New Milton resident John Caine says the town council breached the Commons Act 1876 by defacing land at Andrews Lane and “disrupting its use” with the intention of turning it into plots.

The proposal never went ahead and no one was ever charged in connection with the alleged offences.

But Mr Caine claims detectives failed to carry out a proper investigation and has raised the issue with various bodies over the past five years, including the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

He has now received an apology from the professional standards department at Hampshire police.

The letter reveals that three officers, Chief Inspector Ian Whyton, Detective Inspector Justin Norris and Det Con David Holden, initially failed to record Mr Caine’s allegations against the council.

It also confirms that they breached the victims’ code, which requires officers investigating an alleged crime to keep the complainant updated.

The letter says: “On behalf of the Hampshire Constabulary I offer full and unreserved apologies for the collective failures of CI Whyton, DI Norris and DC Holden for failure to record your allegation of misconduct in a public office and for breaching the victims’ code.

“The force strives to comply with both National Crime Recording Standards and the victims’ code and on this occasion we did not meet the standard expected.”

The apology follows a report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, which also investigated Mr Caine’s complaints against Hampshire police.

Mr Caine, of Ashtree Close, New Milton, called for another police investigation into the council’s actions.

He said: “I hope Hampshire Constabulary comes to the realisation that rules and regulations must be adhered to and applied equally to everyone, regardless of whether they are public officials or not.

“Hampshire Constabulary needs to start again.”

Mr Caine said the saga began in 2009, when park benches were dug up and removed and work started on a project to create allotments.

He said the “unlawful” activity prevented the public from using the green for several weeks.

But New Milton’s town clerk, Graham Flexman, said: “The work complained of, the removal of rusty and unsafe playground equipment, cannot constitute an offence because it reinstated the village green to its proper condition.

“Moreover, the council never did decide to convert the land to allotments but merely considered the possibility.”