The publication of an official report by a police watchdog into Kent crime commissioner Ann Barnes has been delayed - even though it was completed four months ago.

The report by the IPCC (Independent Police Complaints Commission) centred on the circumstances of a car accident the commissioner was involved in last September in Dartford and whether the Mercedes she was driving had valid insurance.

The IPCC report was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service and it decided it would not be in the public interest to pursue any charges.

The Kent and Medway Crime Panel - which acts as the commissioner watchdog - was scheduled to hold a private meeting about the report next week. That was cancelled yesterday (Thursday).

Sources have told the KM Group the commissioner has challenged some of the IPCC’s report but it is not known on what grounds.

However, the chairman of the Kent and Medway Crime said he had cancelled the meeting because the IPCC report was incomplete.

Cllr Mike Hill said: “I called a meeting to discuss the IPCC report but the IPCC was not able to produce it in the time. I have been made aware that it might need further work.”

According to a Freedom of Information request made by The KM Group, the panel received a draft report in May and a month later asked for some clarifications.

It said it would not consider the report “prior to its publication by the IPCC.”

In February, the Crown Prosecution Service said it would not bring charges even though the IPCC had said the commissioner might have driven with incorrect insurance on a number of occasions leading up to the incident in Dartford.

At that time, Mrs Barnes said: “I have always maintained that so far as I was concerned, when my car was struck I was appropriately insured. The insurance company has paid on the claim.”

A spokesman for the commissioner said the matter was a personal one for Mrs Barnes and it would not comment.