A senior Kent police officer who was not prosecuted after she was arrested on allegations of shoplifting will face disciplinary proceedings.

Supt Rachel Adams, 46, was suspended from her duties at Medway police station, where she was area commander, after she was arrested on suspicion of theft in August.

It was revealed in November that papers submitted by police to the Crown Prosecution Service, to see if she should be charged, saw prosecutors decide not to take the matter further.

The allegation is believed to relate to items, including cosmetics, valued at about £30 from an Asda store near West Malling.

Supt Adams, who lives in Kings Hill, was arrested at her home.

The CPS believed a prosecution would be unsuccessful and she remained suspended from duty at Kent Police pending a decision regarding any disciplinary proceedings.

Supt Adams, had been head of Medway Police since being appointed in June 2011 and was previously deputy area commander in the West Kent area and a detective chief inspector in Swale.

Her job has been filled by a colleague and Supt Adams also stood down as vice-chairman of the Medway Community Partnership.

This week police confirmed she would face disciplinary proceedings within the next couple of months.

A spokesman for Kent Police said: “I can confirm the officer will face police disciplinary proceedings and a hearing will be held in late February or early March.”