A police officer based in Essex has been suspended from duty after he was arrested on suspicion of child grooming.

The 49-year-old man, who serves with Essex Police, is alleged to have arranged to meet a child under the age of 16.

He was arrested by his own force in Braintree on Wednesday and has been released under investigation while inquiries continue.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “The man was arrested after information was passed to Essex Police officers by a third party.

“The officer has been suspended from duty pending the outcome of this investigation.”

The force said initial inquiries were made by a separate and independent department from the one in which the officer worked, and that the matter had been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.