The suspension of a high-ranking Cheshire police officer will not impact operational policing in the county, the commissioner has said.

Assistant chief constable Una Kelly was suspended from duty on November 14 due to an ongoing independent investigation.

The investigation relates to historic matters and does not involve Cheshire Police in any way.

At Friday’s meeting of the Cheshire police and crime panel, Cllr Sam Naylor (Cheshire West & Chester, Lab) asked: “Are we satisfied that we are going to get somebody stepping up to the officer’s position?”

Police commissioner Dan Price said he was not the appropriate authority on this matter.

“That is an IOPC (Independent Office for Police Conduct) investigation, and it's a live matter, and it isn't in connection to activities that took place in Cheshire Police,” he told the panel on Friday.”

He added: “I have received assurances from the senior command team that there will be no impact in operational policing in the county.”