Two senior police officers have been suspended after being arrested on suspicion of stealing wine from a Marks and Spencer store, it has been revealed.
Detective Chief Inspector Jim Torbet and Chief Inspector Sharon Rowe, of Sussex Police, were freed on bail pending further inquiries by their own force.
The pair were stopped at the Marks and Spencer store in Shoreham, near Brighton, East Sussex, on Sunday after security guards believed wine had been stolen.
A Sussex Police spokesman confirmed: "Two police officers have been suspended as a result of a criminal investigation. They have been bailed pending further inquiries.
"They were bailed on suspicion of theft relating to an allegation of shoplifting. We cannot confirm their names or ranks."
Ms Rowe is district commander of Worthing, while Mr Torbet works in the force's professional standards department investigating complaints against police.
A letter has been sent to community leaders in Worthing informing them of a change in the local police leadership as Ms Rowe will be absent for the "foreseeable future."
