Allegations that West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner used his position when chairman of the police authority to deal with an issue in his personal life are being considered by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

The matter was referred to a police watchdog by Mark Burns-Williamson’s office for a decision on whether it will investigate.

Fraser Sampson, monitoring officer for the Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner, confirmed last night that he had notified the IPCC on April 29 of a complaint about the alleged conduct of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

A spokesman for the IPCC said it was deciding whether to open an investigation.

To do this, it would have to decide whether the allegations would constitute a criminal offence, if proven.

If not, the matter will instead be referred to the Police and Crime Panel for West Yorkshire.