Kevin Nunes murder: Report into police failings delayed AGAIN

The police watchdog said it was receiving 'a large number of representations' about what information should and shouldn't be made public by 'interested parties'

The 'interested parties' include Staffordshire Police and former officers investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) over failings in the case, the Express & Star understands.

It has sparked concerns about the influence subjects of the investigation may be wielding over the report's publication.

Large sections of the investigation report are expected to be redacted.

Government Chief Whip and South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson said: "The public has been waiting nearly three years for this report to be published and it now seems the IPCC is beholden to the very people who they were investigating.

"It makes a mockery of the idea that the IPCC is an independent investigatory body. They should get on and publish this report which it has had sitting on its desk for the last three years.

"IPCC investigations are meant to be investigated independently, thoroughly, and swiftly. I'm sure it does good work but this case shows it at its worst. It has put itself in a very difficult position in the minds of the public."

Two men last month received £200,000 in damages over Staffordshire Police's handling of the case after they and three others were jailed for killing the ex-Stafford Rangers footballer and later had their convictions overturned by the Court of Appeal.

Fourteen former Staffordshire police officers – including three former Chief Constables and an Assistant Chief Constable – were investigated over alleged wrongdoing and a cover-up over the handling of the original murder inquiry into the gangland killing in a country lane in Pattingham in 2002.

The probe, known as Operation Kalmia, was launched after a series of failings were revealed after a damning internal police dossier that was never disclosed at the murder trial came to light.

The subsequent watchdog investigation was carried out by Mick Creedon, who was at the time Chief Constable of Derbyshire Constabulary.

He concluded his investigation in November 2014.

None of the officers under investigation faced any criminal charges.

However, Mr Creedon recommended that senior officers should face disciplinary hearings – but last year the IPCC said no such hearings would be held.

Details of his findings have never been made public.

In a letter, IPCC Deputy Chairwoman Sarah Green said: "There will be a further delay before we publish the Operation Kalmia report and summary.

"We are continuing to receive a large number of representations regarding publication and redaction, which we are still working through. I do not anticipate that we will be in a position to publish until mid-September."

Kevin Nunes, 20, was from Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, and had been on the books of Tottenham Hotspur.