Officer held over vice claim

The officer works in Bolton

A police officer has been arrested over allegations he picked up prostitutes and took them back to his station for sex.

The 33-year-old constable, who serves in Bolton with Greater Manchester Police, has been suspended while an investigation is conducted.

The officer, whose name has not been released, is accused of soliciting vice girls in a red light district of Bolton and taking them to nearby Castle Street police station.

The allegations came to light when a prostitute made a complaint to his fellow officers.

So far he has not been charged with any offence.

'High standards'

Chief Inspector Patrick McKelvey from Bolton police said: "We have high professional standards within the police service and we are looking into the alleged incidents. A full investigation is ongoing.

"If proven guilty, this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated from any officer, but so far nothing has been proven.

"We are taking the allegations very seriously."

The married officer involved in the allegations has been bailed until 22 September.

Earlier this year, police chiefs in Bolton announced they were sending warning letters to the homes of men suspected of kerb crawling as part of a crackdown on prostitution in the town.