Carlisle’s former MP has called on Cumbria Police to provide reassurances over the robustness of their approach to investigating the abuse of mental health inpatients.

Eric Martlew, who served as Carlisle’s Labour Party MP from 1987 until 2010, recently wrote to Cumbria Police’s chief constable, Michelle Skeer requesting an investigation into how the force handled allegations of abuse at the Garlands mental health hospital in 1998.

His letter came as details of alleged abuse surfaced from Muckamore Abbey in Northern Ireland - which police are currently investigating.

He wants reassurances that if similar allegations surfaced again in Cumbria today, police would thoroughly investigate.

“I read the report [into the abuse allegations], and I didn’t sleep for three nights,” Mr Martlew said.

“I contacted the police in 1998 and asked them if they would investigate. They said they wouldn’t. They wouldn’t give a reason.

“But a few weeks ago, there was news of evidence of abuse which surfaced at a big hospital in northern Ireland.

“The police there said they would forensically investigate it and no stone would be left unturned. This was in total contrast to what the police did in Cumbria.”

A spokesman for Cumbria Police said: “We can confirm that the Constabulary received communication on August 28 from Mr Martlew alluding to alleged historical abuse within a care setting and a previous allegation in 2001.

“This is currently being reviewed and an assessment will be made in due course as to what investigative response will be required.

“It would be inappropriate to comment further until this review has been conducted.”

Mr Martlew said he hoped the police could demonstrate that any wrongdoing on the police’s part would not be repeated today.

“I want them to investigate whether the decision the police made at the time not to investigate was the right one, and if it wasn’t then they should apologise,” he said.

“The other thing I’ve asked for is that if a similar incident happened today, then the response of Cumbria Police would be totally different.

“It seems that at that time patients with mental health issues lost their human rights.

“But they should be protected even more, because they are so vulnerable.”