A regional daily has called for a police boss being investigated for a sex crime to quit his role.

The Northern Echo has launched a campaign to get Cleveland police and crime commissioner Steve Turner, pictured, to stand down after it was revealed the Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating him over an alleged sexual assault.

The Echo’s campaign comes just weeks after the Yorkshire Post succeeded in campaign for North Yorkshire’s police, fire and crime commissioner Philip Allott’s resignation over comments he made about murder victim Sarah Everard.

The alleged assault by Conservative commissioner Mr Turner is said to have happened”‘decades ago”, but his office has said there are “no plans for [his] suspension or resignation” at present.

In an editorial published this lunchtime, Echo print editor David Bourn wrote: “Today when confidence in our public servants is probably at an all-time low, the news of fresh allegations against Cleveland’s beleaguered Police and Crime Commissioner leaves a particularly bitter taste.

“Taken in isolation, an allegation – and that is all it is at this stage – of such a serious nature against a man responsible for crime and policing would be bad enough.

“But against the background of recent events, which have left most UK taxpayers feeling like they are drowning in a sea of sleaze, it feels like the final straw.

“So the Northern Echo is calling for Mr Turner to stand down immediately until a proper investigation into all the allegations against him has been carried out.”

A spokesperson for Mr Turner’s office said: “We have been made aware that a referral has been made to Cleveland Police and Crime Panel relating to a non-recent allegation against police and crime commissioner Steve Turner.

“We extend our full co-operation to the panel and the IOPC and we will assist them with any inquiries they need to make.”