A TOP police chief from West Mercia Constabulary has been suspended following serious allegations of misconduct.

Chief Supt Patsy Lord, commander at Bromsgrove and Redditch Division for the past four years, was suspended from duty last Friday pending further investigation.

Staffing matters were said today to be the catalyst for her suspension.

A police spokesman confirmed allegations levied against her did not involve issues of dishonesty or integrity. Det Chief Con Alan Bridge, who is heading the inquiry, said the investigation was at a very early stage.

"It's important that I carry out a thorough, careful and objective inquiry, but I will do all that I can to expedite the process," he said.

"The complaint has been made from within the organisation and is being dealt with under internal disciplinary procedures."

Det Chief Con Bridge wanted to reassure members of the community that arrangements had been put in place to continue effective policing in Bromsgrove and further afield.

"The policing of the division continues to be properly supervised and there will be no impact on the quality of service they receive from the constabulary," he said.

He added it would be inappropriate to comment further while the investigation was still in progress.

Chief Supt Lord was instrumental in deciding policing authorities for the division.

Before being appointed divisional commander, she was chief inspector at Redditch.

Previously, she was a superintendent at West Mercia's headquarters at Hindlip Hall, near Worcester.

She joined the police in 1974 and has served in Kidderminster, as a sergeant in Hereford and inspector at Leominster.

Chief Supt Lord once declared Redditch the safest town in Britain and launched a £320,000 CCTV footage system in the north Worcestershire town last year.