A PLAIN clothes policeman has been dismissed from his job at Suffolk Constabulary following an investigation, The Evening Star has learned.

Neil Puffett

A PLAIN clothes policeman has been dismissed from his job at Suffolk Constabulary following an investigation, The Evening Star has learned.

The force held an investigation into the conduct of detective constable Steve Rowland which ran for more than six months and ended with his dismissal.

The detective, who was based in Ipswich prior to being posted elsewhere in Suffolk, was initially arrested but later released without charge.

Suffolk police has refused to discuss the details of the investigation and it remains unclear what the nature of the allegations against the officer was.

A Suffolk police spokesman said: “We can confirm that an officer has been dismissed from their post within the constabulary, following a misconduct hearing in March.

“However, initial papers seeking an appeal have been received and will be

considered.

“Due to this being a confidential internal matter between the constabulary and an employee, no further comment will be made.”

Between 2000 and 2005 a total of 12 Suffolk police officers were charged with criminal offences following investigations.

Suffolk police said they had sacked officers after they had been found guilty of forgery, drink-driving and being drunk and disorderly.

Others, convicted of offences including wasting police time, resigned from the force.

Two of the 12 charged with offences were sergeants and the rest were constables.