A senior Medway police officer, who was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting 10 months ago, has now been cleared of any wrongdoing and could be back at her desk within days.

Supt Rachel Adams, 47, had been suspended from her duties as area commander for the Towns after her arrest in August last year.

The allegation of shoplifting related to an Asda store near West Malling.

In December, it was revealed the Crown Prosecution Service had decided not to take the matter further, although Supt Adams remained suspended.

A disciplinary procedure started in February, but was adjourned several times, resuming in April and then adjourning again until this month.

Supt Adams has remained on full pay.

On Wednesday, June 12, the disciplinary proceedings came to an end and cleared Supt Adams of any wrongdoing.

She will now be reinstated in the force. It is not known at this stage if she will come back to Medway or another area.

A spokesman for Kent Police said: “Following the decision on December 20, 2012, by the CPS not to charge a Kent police officer with theft, an internal disciplinary hearing has now been completed.

“The officer faced an independent external panel which included a lay member, and was chaired by another police force.

“The misconduct and gross misconduct matters were found to be not proven.”

Deputy Chief Constable Alan Pughsley added: `We expect the highest standards of conduct from all our officers, whether on or off duty.

“When an offence is reported to us, we will investigate it thoroughly, and when it involves one of our own officers they will also be subject to an internal disciplinary process.

“We have now conducted that process and accept the findings of the external panel, which we will now consider with a view to reinstating the officer within the force.”