A police watchdog is investigating whether a police constable was obstructed in his duties while investigating whether Kent crime commissioner Ann Barnes had proper car insurance.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has issued a statement today about the widening of its inquiry following the commisioner’s crash in Dartford in September.

She was driving her Mercedes at the time.

The widening of the inquiry is further unwelcome news for the commissioner, who has endured criticism over a string of gaffes since taking office in 2012.

The IPCC statement said: "The IPCC is investigating whether the Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent, Ann Barnes, may have committed a criminal offence by not having in place appropriate insurance to cover business use of her own car when she was involved in a road traffic accident on 16 September 2014.

"The investigation will also determine how long the relevant insurance was not in place, if that is the case, and how many miles the PCC travelled on business use while uninsured.

"The IPCC is also investigating whether a police constable was obstructed in the execution of their duty when initial enquiries in the PCC’s insurance cover were being made by Kent Police.”

The inquiry began several weeks ago but is apparently taking longer to complete than had been envisaged.