AN Exeter officer under investigation for posting offensive comments on a social networking website will finally be called to a police misconduct hearing — a year after the Echo revealed his outburst.

The officer, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was suspended for posting on the Facebook site comments appearing to condone the use of violence against suspects.

He will now appear before a panel of senior officers who will decide what action should be taken against him.

The Echo has previously reported that the officer, who is suspended on full pay, would not face prosecution over his actions.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall police today said the matter would be dealt with internally.

He said: "As a consequence of the investigation by the professional standards department into comments posted onto a Facebook site earlier in the year, an officer will be appearing at a police misconduct hearing in November.

"In view of this, it would be inappropriate to comment further."

The comments were posted on Facebook in response to video clips of people being restrained and arrested by police officers.

The Echo alerted police to inflammatory remarks on the site.

Devon and Cornwall Constabulary's professional standards department launched an internal inquiry and the webpage was removed from public view. The force also launched a staff training programme on using social networking websites.

Above a clip showing a youth pulling a knife on an officer in a Devon custody suite, before being restrained, a user of the website wrote: "look at this stupid c***, hope he got a good f***** shoeing in the cells."

The user added: "And remember, let's not be so soft on these c***s out there."

Commenting on a video showing a large woman resisting arrest and eventually being pinned down by several officers, the user says: "Another crazy c*** wanting to have a go!!!"

Police chiefs said they took the incident seriously and thanked the Echo for bringing it to their attention.

The officer, who earns around £29,000 a year, has served with Devon and Cornwall police at the Heavitree Road police station in Exeter for a number of years.

The CPS decided in May that no criminal charges would be brought against him over the Facebook comments.

It also cleared him of an allegation that he used excessive force when he arrested a man in a separate incident.