Gloucestershire Constabulary has issued a statement which confirms that TWO of its most senior figures are facing charges of misconduct.

As reported in Punchline-Gloucester.com yesterday, Chief Constable Rod Hansen has stepped down from the top role at the county's police force pending a probe by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) into claims of gross misconduct.

However, in a statement issued last night, the force also revealed how Deputy Chief Constable Shaun West, who retired from duty this summer, is also "under criminal investigation in relation to a number of serious allegations including assault and misconduct in public office".

With two of the most senior positions now vacant at the authority, the Constabulary has issued a statement in a clear move to quell public disquiet over confidence in county law enforcement.

The statement said: "We understand that both the communities we serve, and our own workforce, will be concerned and unsettled following the suspension of Chief Constable Rod Hansen.

"We are continuing to provide the best service we can to our communities, and we would like to assure everyone that frontline policing will not stop, and we will continue to respond to calls from those who need us."

It added that the force has "dedicated and hardworking officers, police staff and volunteers who will continue to keep people safe from harm, pursue offenders and investigate crime".

Meanwhile the Chief Police Officers Staff Association (CPOSA) has also confirmed that it is representing Mr West in the IOPC investigation.

A spokesperson said: "Shaun denies the criminal and gross misconduct allegations and is co-operating fully."

Gloucestershire Police Federation (GPF) has also confirmed an ongoing investigation into Mr West, who was suspended by his then boss, Rod Hansen, in January this year and who subsequently retired in June.

Sgt Steve James, GPF branch chair of the staff association for police officers, said that a misconduct investigation remains active but that any impact on both investigations would be unlikely on "day-to-day service delivery".

However, Sgt James added that the IOPC investigations carried "a ramification in terms of the strategic leadership and governance of the force with those roles currently vacant."

Gloucestershire Constabulary's statement added: "The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) is working with His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) and the College of Policing to identify a temporary Chief Constable who can lead the Constabulary and provide consistency during this period."

The IOPC has indicated that Mr Hansen's suspension related to his handling of an allegation against a member of the force, which came about in August.

Chris Nelson, Police and Crime Commissioner for the force, has meanwhile stated: "I will emphasise that the decision to suspend is a neutral act. It has no bearing on any indication of guilt and should not be seen as such."