A SYP spokesperson told the BBC the complaints the force had received regarding Hassan Ali had not been drug-related and concerned “allegations of persistently asking a victim on a date, sharing information and failure to safeguard victims”.
Former IOPC investigator Garry Harper says he was also aware of allegations facing PC Ali – and says the officer’s links with organised crime groups were discussed inside the IOPC during Operation Linden.
“There were several complaints that he had supplied and taken drugs, as well as sexually abused some of the survivors,” he says.
At the time, the IOPC and SYP were aware of a second officer accused of abuse against children, he adds, but SYP had allowed the officer to retire.
“At best it was a reputational covering exercise. That’s me being incredibly generous to them. At worst, it was out and out corruption to let him go.”
The IOPC told the BBC it had “no record” of such allegations against PC Ali being raised by “any of the victim-survivors involved in Operation Linden”.
It said it had investigated a report from a third party that a former officer had a sexual relationship with “two young vulnerable females”. These individuals had been spoken to as adults and had denied this took place, it added.
South Yorkshire Police told the BBC that none of the former officers forming part of the force’s current inquiries “had an allegation of rape against them at the time of their retirement”.
Do you have any information about this story? You can contact Ruth Green by email ruth.green@bbc.co.uk