Six police and crime commissioners have been investigated by the policing watchdog for England and Wales since they took up their posts two years ago, it was revealed yesterday.

The probes include one into expenses claims and another into an allegation of a commissioner driving without insurance, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said.

The commissioners are publicly elected and serve functions including holding the police and chief constables to account and ensuring community needs are met effectively, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners website claims.

Since 2012 the IPCC has had 43 referrals relating to just over half of the 41 police and crime commissioners.

The IPCC said 14 of those referrals were about commissioners not being registered as information providers. None of those referrals were investigated.