High-ranking officer suspended in data probe

Assistant Chief Constable Una Kelly (previously Jennings) was one of the first cohort of Catholic recruits into the Police Service of Northern Ireland

A high-ranking police officer has been suspended amid an investigation into misconduct across two forces.

Cheshire Police's assistant chief constable, Una Kelly, was suspended with immediate effect on 14 November, the constabulary said.

It said the investigation "related to historical matters" and did not involve the Cheshire force "in any way".

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) watchdog said it was conducting an inquiry involving allegations dating back to 2018.

An IOPC spokesman said it was looking into claims that "two senior police officers at separate forces shared confidential information relating to an employment matter without proper purpose".

The police watchdog said it had received a referral from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire in late October, and a referral from Cheshire Police in November.

'No disciplinary notes'

It said the information that led to the allegations "came to our attention during the course of a separate investigation".

The IOPC said it could not provide any details of the other investigation at this stage.

"Our investigation is at an early stage and no disciplinary notices have been served", the spokesman added.

Ms Kelly was one of the first Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) recruits from a Catholic background.

Then known by her maiden name of Jennings, she said she was one of 15 Catholics in the first cohort of PSNI recruits, starting her career on 4 November 2001.

She transferred to South Yorkshire Police in 2017 and served as a district commander for Rotherham and Sheffield, before being promoted to head of crime.