Officer's police car theft charge (From Penarth Times)

Officer's police car theft charge

A SOUTH Wales Police officer has been charged with stealing a force vehicle from Penarth police station and drink-driving.

The officer was arrested in the early hours of Friday, January 7.

Superintendent Paul Edwards, of South Wales Police, said: "A South Wales Police officer was held for interview in Bridgend police station, relating to a breach of professional standards, following which the officer was charged with the unlawful taking of a police vehicle, a drink-drive offence and failing to report a non-injury road accident."

The officer has been suspended from duty and will appear before Barry magistrates later this month.

The officer, who has not been identified, was off-duty at the time of the alleged offences.

The officer is alleged to have taken a force vehicle from Penarth police station after having been drinking in Cardiff.

The latest incident comes just two weeks after a South Wales Police Chief Inspector was also suspended from duty following drink-drive allegations.