The head of a British police force and his deputy were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of corruption and fraud, a source with knowledge of the investigation said. Sean Price, chief constable of Cleveland Police in north-east England, and his deputy Derek Bonnard were suspended from their posts shortly after being detained.
An unnamed woman, thought to be a member of staff at Cleveland Police, was also arrested as part of the investigation, which is being run by detectives from two different forces who have been drafted in for the probe. Officers arrested "three people on suspicion of misconduct in a public office, fraud by abuse of position and corrupt practice," said a statement from Warwickshire Police, a force in central England which is leading the probe.
"Two men and a woman were arrested and have been taken to a police station in North Yorkshire (in northern England) where they will be interviewed later today. "A number of premises are being searched in connection with these arrests." Police would not confirm the identity of those arrested although a source with knowledge of the investigation confirmed the men were Price and Bonnard. Several hours after the arrests, Cleveland Police Authority, the civilian body which oversees the force, said that "two chief officers have been suspended from their posts with Cleveland Police while the investigations are being considered."