A POLICE sergeant is due to appear in court today after being charged with drink driving.Michael Smith, 41, who lives in a village in the Hadleigh area, has been suspended from his position at Suffolk police since being arrested in connection with the alleged offence in the early hours of Saturday morning.

A POLICE sergeant is due to appear in court today after being charged with drink driving.

Michael Smith, 41, who lives in a village in the Hadleigh area, has been suspended from his position at Suffolk police since being arrested in connection with the alleged offence in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Smith is due to appear before South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court, in Elm Street, Ipswich, at 10am today to answer the allegation made against him.

Suffolk's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is expected to bring in an outside agency to handle the case to avoid any perceived conflict of interest.

It is the policy of both the police and CPS to hand over responsibility for cases involving their own employees to a prosecutor not attached to either organisation.

A spokesman for the county's CPS said: “We don't prosecute our own police officers. These cases are normally handled by Norfolk CPS.”

The Ipswich-based sergeant is expected to enter a plea in relation to the charge of driving with excess alcohol in court today.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police said last night: “Sgt Michael Smith, 41, from the Hadleigh area, has been charged with one count of drink driving.

“He has been suspended pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings.”

It is not known how long Smith has been with Suffolk police or the length of time he has served as a sergeant based at Ipswich police station.

The spokeswoman said she was unable to release details of the alcohol reading given by Sgt Smith, or where the alleged offence took place.

The full details of the charge made against Smith were due to be outlined today at the officer's first court hearing in relation to the matter.

It is believed he was arrested by a fellow sergeant in the early hours of Saturday morning and then taken into custody.

If found guilty of the offence, Smith is likely to face further disciplinary proceedings from Suffolk Constabulary. This could include dismissal from the force.

mark.bulstrode@eadt.co.uk