By Richard SmithA POLICE officer has been suspended while murder squad detectives investigate a shooting alleged to have occurred 21 years ago in South America.

By Richard Smith

A POLICE officer has been suspended while murder squad detectives investigate a shooting alleged to have occurred 21 years ago in South America.

The officer, a police constable with Suffolk Constabulary, has been released on police bail until the New Year as inquiries continue into the death of a Guyanese man in 1982.

The constable, who has not been named, was arrested at his home address in Woodbridge on Monday morning and then taken to a police station for questioning.

Details have not been made public about where the constable is based, although it is understood he does not serve at Woodbridge.

The 41-year-old officer has now been released on police bail pending further inquiries and he is due to answer bail in eight weeks.

The arrest was made following a worldwide investigation by Interpol, Suffolk police and other agencies into the death of Brian Spencer.

Mr Spencer, who was believed to be a Guyanese national, died in Guyana from injuries sustained after being shot in 1982.

A Suffolk police spokeswoman said yesterday: “Suffolk police can confirm that the man arrested in connection with the murder of Brian Spencer is a police constable serving with Suffolk Constabulary.

“The officer, who is not being named by police, has been suspended from duty pending the outcome of the current legal proceedings.”

It has not been made public whether the unnamed officer was a policeman at the time of Mr Spencer's death, nor has his nationality been disclosed.

But the arrest has caught the authorities in Guyana by surprise and police officers were continuing yesterday to try to find details about the 1982 incident.

The first time the Guyana Police were aware of the arrest was when the East Anglian Daily Times contacted the police commissioner, Floyd McDonald for a comment.

He is now checking the force's records for information about the death. The only detail that has been released about Mr Spencer's death is that he died from injuries sustained after being shot.

richard.smith@eadt.co.uk