Nottinghamshire Police are preparing to launch an investigation into maternity cases of “potentially significant concern”.
Chief Constable Kate Meynell said the cases relate to Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
She said the decision came after a meeting with senior midwife Donna Ockenden to discuss her independent review “and to build up a clearer picture of the work that is taking place”.
She said: “We want to work alongside the review but also ensure that we do not hinder its progress.
“However, I am in a position to say we are preparing to launch a police investigation.”
The trust was ordered to make “significant and immediate improvements” to its maternity services amid growing concerns mothers and babies were not safe.
In a statement, families affected said they welcomed the “long-awaited news of the police investigation”.
There will be a “wealth of information from victim families” for the police to use in their investigation, the statement added.
“A large number of us have alleged crimes and we will be sharing our evidence with the police to assist them with their investigations.
“There has been poor maternity care as well as poor investigation of that care at NUHT for many years,” the families alleged.
They believe there has been a “far-reaching cover-up” by both NUHT and NHS staff, the statement said.
Jack and Sarah Hawkins, who fought to prove NUHT’s errors led to the death of their stillborn daughter, described their relief at Ms Ockenden’s review being launched last year.
The family statement released after the police investigation was announced added: “Sadly, referral to the police was first mentioned in whistleblowing letters and conversations by Dr Jack and Sarah Hawkins in 2016, following the death of their daughter, Harriet, on 17 April that year.
“They specifically asked the leaders of the NUHT to notify the police of her avoidable death, not just because of the care, but because of the behaviours of staff who were supposed to investigate and learn from her death.
“This conversation has been repeated multiple times with senior people at NUHT and with the local NHS over the years.”
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Griffin has been appointed to oversee the preparations and the subsequent investigation.
The chief executive of NUH, Anthony May, has committed to fully cooperate with the police probe, Ms Meynell said.
In a statement released last week, Mr May, who joined the trust last year, vowed to “do my very best to deliver better services now and in the future”.
He said: “Throughout the year, I have heard from affected families who have suffered unimaginable loss and trauma and who have been brave enough to share their experiences with me.
“For this, I am immensely grateful – it has been humbling and informative.”
Ms Ockenden led a similar review into maternity care at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust, concluding that catastrophic failures could have led to the deaths of more than 200 babies.
A “climate of fear” stopped staff speaking out, a whistleblower who worked at the trust for almost 30 years claimed.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.