Cheshire Police's and crime panel has asked for an update on officer training and relevant data in the light of allegations nationally regarding 'two-tier policing'.

Cllr Sam Naylor (CWAC, Lab) told Friday's (5 June) meeting of the panel he didn't accept 'in any shape or form' two-tier policing was an issue in Cheshire, but he would like it to be properly discussed at a future meeting.

"Two-tier policing is being used as a political football in my opinion at the moment, and I think, if it does come under the terms of this body, I think we should be discussing it and dismiss it as far as it's taking place within Cheshire Police," said Cllr Naylor.

Panel chair Judy Snowball (CEC, Lab) said police culture was something the panel was interested in, together with police training, 'and we've made that very clear to the commissioner that we want to continue to review that and to hear updates on it'.

Independent panel member Professor Barry Godfrey said: "I think it's easiest or best dismissed with data, and I wonder what data would be available to the meeting for that."

Cllr Snowball said she would liaise with the commissioner's office to see what data was available so the matter could be discussed properly at a future meeting.

Speaking after the meeting Cllr Naylor told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I was outraged at the fact that people have used this tragic set of circumstances [the murder of Henry Nowak] as a political football to create more division in an increasingly divided society."