POLICE have been criticised for taking two years to launch a proper investigation into a teacher’s inappropriate relationship with a teenage pupil.

Hampshire Safeguarding Children Board (HSCB) says initial enquiries into Tyrone Mark, later jailed for making indecent images of children, fell short of the standard expected.

In 2012 staff at The Arnewood School in Gore Road, New Milton, discovered that Mark was having a relationship with a female student.

But a report published by HSCB, a statutory body that oversees safeguarding arrangements for children across the county, says Hampshire police originally asked another force to look into the matter.

The teacher was not investigated until the end of 2014, by which time he had made more than 180 indecent images of children.

Later that year Hampshire police finally launched an investigation after receiving a bundle of evidence - believed to be the teacher’s notes and photographs.

Critics claimed the two-year delay left Mark free to commit the offences.

Campaigning parent John Caine, of New Milton, said: “Evidence of his perversions was not recorded and investigated when it should have been.

“All the offences he was later convicted of could have been prevented had Hampshire Constabulary done their job in the first place.”

The HSCB report says Hampshire County Council was warned about Mark towards the end of 2012.

It adds: “The referral related to what appeared to be a potentially over-familiar but not sexual relationship between the staff member and a student.

“The case was referred to Hampshire Constabulary for them to consider whether any criminal investigation should be undertaken.

“As a result of the circumstances of this case, Hampshire Constabulary concluded that this was a matter to be considered by another police force.

“Hampshire Constabulary’s initial investigation fell short of what can be expected.”