A FEMALE police officer has been charged with misconduct in public office and is due to appear in court.

PC Clare Stretton, based at Malinsgate police station in Telford, was suspended from duty in March last year after she was arrested in Shropshire on March 13 on suspicion of misconduct in a public office and has been on police bail while enquiries continue.

The arrest was part of an ongoing Professional Standards inquiry by West Mercia Police and Stretton was charged on Thursday and is due before Worcester Magistrates Court on Friday, February 14.