INVESTIGATIONS are being carried out to see if a police surgeon sexually abused recruits at a police training school near Taunton.

So far at least 11 people have given statements saying they were indecently assaulted by Avon and Somerset Police surgeon Dr Reg Bunting, who died in 2013 aged 80.

Victims have come forward with a range of complaints including claims some were ordered to strip during routine physicals; he fondled other cadets; and ogled their near naked bodies.

The identity of the complainants has not been revealed, but their complaints relate to incidents during the 1980s and 1990s.

Dr Bunting was a regular visitor to Canonsgrove, where recruits were taught the ropes up until its closure in 1994.

The allegations against Dr Bunting were referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission by Avon and Somerset Police when they surfaced.

A report being compiled by the force will be sent to the IPCC.

Detective Superintendent Rachel Williams said: “Our investigation is in its relatively early stages and it’s still not yet clear how extensive it will be.

“After victims came forward with the first allegations we made an immediate referral to the IPCC to seek their advice.

“They asked us to do some further work which is now almost complete and our report will be going back to the IPCC shortly for their consideration about next steps.

“This was a brave decision by the victims to come forward after so many years and we’re doing all we can to support and safeguard them with counselling from our independent sexual violence advisors and the Bridge, our sexual assault referral centre.”

An IPCC spokesman said: “We have advised the force to continue its inquiries to gather more detail before re-referring matters to the IPCC as necessary.

“At that stage we will determine the level of any IPCC involvement needed in an investigation.”

Kevin Phillips of the Police Federation declined to comment on the investigation.

Mark Williams-Thomas, the former detective who exposed Jimmy Savile as a paedophile in a TV documentary, told the Mail on Sunday: “It is concerning to hear the nature of the allegations against Dr Bunting, especially given that concerns were raised while he was alive.”