A former Cumbria Police detective believes the reputation of the force he was once “extremely proud” to serve has suffered serious damage in light of the Poppi Worthington scandal.

John Owen spoke out at the first Cumbria Police and Crime Panel to be held since the appointment of Peter McCall as the county’s police and crime commissioner.

The panel, which convened just days after Chief Constable Jerry Graham issued a public apology for the constabulary’s handling of the 13-month-old Barrow baby’s death, made clear their concerns about the failings.

Mr Owen, a former detective, said “words failed him”.

He added: “The level of incompetence shown by these officers I find staggering, to be quite honest.

“The reputation of Cumbria Police, having been an officer with that force, of which I was extremely proud to be a member, has been virtually destroyed by this incident. Can we be assured that those who are responsible will be held to account for what happened, and that on this occasion the punishment might fit the crime?”

Mr McCall said: “I think you can be assured that the chief constable is taking it very seriously. Without wishing to prejudice those proceedings in any way, I think we can be assured that due process will be seen to be done.”

Poppi suffered an appalling sexual attack in the hours before she died in December 2012, although the Crown Prosecution Service said earlier this month there was no realistic prospect of anyone being convicted due to a lack of evidence.

Mr McCall told the panel that Cumbria Police had got it “badly wrong” and it was right to apologise.

He said “robust” new procedures had been put in place. Internal disciplinary procedures were still ongoing, explained Mr McCall, who came under pressure from the panel to pledge that such a case would never happen again.

Mr McCall added that he now feared Poppi would never get justice.

“I am very, very sad about that,” he said. “But I would like to think that the legacy we can and will deliver for her is to ensure, so far as is humanly possible, this should never happen again with another child.”

Panel member Linda Vance, an independent co-opted member of the public, remained sceptical.

“Assurances throughout the country have been given before and things do happen again. I want to know how the assurances that you are giving us are going to be carried through.”

Mr McCall said: “I can’t give you the absolute guarantee that this will never happen. Also, it would be very wrong of me to delve into the operational aspects of the police – that’s why HMIC (HM Inspectorate of Constabulary) are the professional investigators, it’s why it’s really important they come back and revisit those areas”