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Scandal hit police force's assistant chief constable arrested and suspended on suspicion of gross misconduct

Adrian Roberts, Cleveland Police's assistant chief constable, has been released while investigations continue - NNP
Adrian Roberts, Cleveland Police's assistant chief constable, has been released while investigations continue - NNP

A senior officer at a scandal-hit police force has been arrested and suspended on suspicion of gross misconduct.

Adrian Roberts, Cleveland Police's assistant chief constable, has been released while investigations continue into the allegations, which were first raised in a complaint on April 10.

The force would not say why he had been arrested, nor reveal what the allegations are against him.

Cleveland has been hit by a series of scandals – including racism, corruption and spying on journalists – and has had five chief constables in just six years.

Mike Veale quit as chief constable in January, over “serious” allegations about his behaviour. He had been reprimanded for smashing is work phone with a golf club then falsely claiming it had been run over. In 2011 former chief constable Sean Price was sacked for gross misconduct.

Mr Roberts, who earns more than £110,000 a year, had his case initially referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) but yesterday it decided to pass it back to Cleveland police on the basis the alleged offence took place outside England and Wales.

Cleveland Police said he has been suspended on suspicion of gross misconduct but added that the suspension was a "neutral act".

"There is a presumption of innocence throughout any investigative process, which is right, fair and proper, and we would ask in the interests of fairness that the media do not indulge in speculation,” said a spokesman.

"Suspension is a neutral act and it is important for all those concerned and the integrity of the investigation that the individual concerned is innocent unless demonstrated otherwise.”

Asked why the reason for his arrest has not been released, the spokesman replied that, in line with the College of Policing's Authorised Professional Practice, the arrested man's identity was not being released.

But the spokesman added that, as a name has been published by the media, "we do not intend to give further details of the investigation, conduct or arrest".