A serving Wiltshire Police constable has been suspended from duty and charged with theft following the alleged disappearance of military equipment from a British Army base.
Police Constable James Stroud, 31, who is based at the Wiltshire Police headquarters in Devizes, appeared before Swindon Magistrates' Court on Wednesday to face the theft allegation.
The charges relate to equipment that allegedly went missing from the British Army's Land Warfare Centre in Warminster, though specific details about the missing items haven't been disclosed by authorities.
Internal Investigation Underway
Wiltshire Police confirmed that PC Stroud has been suspended from his position while both criminal proceedings and an internal misconduct investigation move forward.
A police spokesperson stated: "We can confirm that a police constable has been charged with theft and has been suspended from duty. As legal proceedings are active, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."
Military Connection
The case has raised questions about the relationship between the police force and military establishments in the area. The Land Warfare Centre in Warminster is a key training facility for the British Army, developing combat techniques and testing new equipment.
This incident comes at a sensitive time for police forces across the UK, with several high-profile cases involving officer misconduct drawing public scrutiny in recent months.
The case has been adjourned and will proceed through the court system in the coming weeks. PC Stroud was released on bail following his court appearance.
