IT IS absolutely right that the outcome of the Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation into the conduct of four Gwent police officers was made public.

In most other organisations the findings of such a hearing would remain confidential.

However, while publication of disciplinary proceedings may seem unfair to police officers, in this case they should be in the public domain.

Police must be seen to uphold the highest standards of behaviour if they are to maintain public trust.

Two PCs are to resign after they were discovered taking part in a prank which saw them driving police cars to Barry Island while on duty.

A further two were fined 13 days' pay. A fifth officer resigned last week on an unrelated conduct matter.

The behaviour of the four officers was deemed to discredit the police service.

Three of them were said to neither be open or truthful and one of the four failed to treat a member of the public with courtesy and respect.

Many may consider that on a scale of seriousness the offences do not rank very highly but the police force has to be rigorous in upholding discipline.

Chief Constable Mike Tonge knows that as do the other senior officers in the force. They no doubt feel let down by the actions of this handful of PCs.

Gwent Police was right to refer the matter to the IPCC and we welcome that this issue has been public, at least to some extent.