Norfolk's Police and Crime Commissioner has described allegations of fraud made against him as 'nonsense' as the full report of an investigation into his expenses claims has been published.

The investigation, carried out by City of London Police under the direction and control of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), began in June 2014, following a referral from the Norfolk Police and Crime Panel.

It found no evidence a criminal offence had been committed.

The referral from the panel followed complaints about expenses claims Stephen Bett made for journeys between his home address at Thornham, near Hunstanton, and his official headquarters at Wymondham between November 15, 2012, and October 31, 2013. In November 2013, Mr Bett, who has an annual salary of £70,000 per year, repaid £2,721.60 and agreed stop claiming for the journeys.

The investigation found that after taking up his post in November 2012, Mr Bett agreed with the then chief executive of his office, and his chief finance officer that he could declare his home address as his permanent place of work. This allowed him to claim for travel from his home to meetings at the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk (OPCCN).

The investigation found there was no evidence that the agreement was dishonest or otherwise involved the commission of a criminal offence. The evidence showed that Mr Bett followed the policies that were in place at the time.

Stephen Bett, Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk said: 'The allegations of fraud made against me by a single individual were nonsense from the start so I am not surprised by the report's findings in this regard. The IPCC report clearly shows that I took advice and guidance on my expenses claims and that I followed the policies that were then in place.

'I do recognise that the report notes some poorly recorded and poorly administered policies within the OPCCN at the time. While this is obviously disappointing I would point out that this was during a period of enormous and unprecedented change for the office as they transferred from the old Police Authority set up to the new PCC arrangements.

'I do however welcome the fact that the IPCC recognises that the new chief executive and new chief finance officer, both of whom took up post soon after, acted swiftly to put a new travel and expenses scheme in place at the OPCCN. As the IPCC highlights, this provides the public with the transparency and accountability they rightly expect.'

IPCC Commissioner James Dipple-Johnstone said: 'The sole purpose of the investigation was to establish whether a criminal offence may have been committed by Mr Bett, not whether the arrangement complied with Her Majesty's Customs and Revenue (HMRC) rules or other guidance as that does not fall within our remit.

'Mr Bett's office has now put in place new arrangements for claiming travel expenses that should provide the level of accountability the public expects.'