Plebgate: Three Police Federation Officials Investigated by IPPC over Andrew Mitchell Row

Three Police Federation officials - anmed as Ken Mackaill, Chris Jones and Stuart Hinton - face being investigated over their role in the "Plebgate" row, it has been announced.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPPC) announced it will probe the conduct of the officials who met MP Andrew Mitchell in the wake of his row with police at Downing Street.

Mitchell was forced to resign as the government's Chief Whip after he allegedly called officers "plebs". He strongly denies saying the word and is taking legal action over the claim.

The saga has continued since October 2012 and shows little sign of ending soon, with both Mitchell and a police officer embroiled in legal action.

West Mercia police force previously carried out an investigation into the same three officials targeted in the latest probe.

It found there was no case to answer for the officers involved in the Downing Street spat with Mitchell. This was later ruled invalid by a judge.

In a statement, an IPPC spokesman said: "The IPCC is to carry out an independent investigation into the conduct of three Police Federation representatives following their meeting with Andrew Mitchell MP at his Sutton Coldfield constituency office in October 2012."