ONE of Oxfordshire’s most senior police officers has been arrested and suspended as part of an investigation into an alleged arson attack.

Chief Supt Jim Trotman, pictured, a former Oxford police commander, was arrested while on duty on suspicion of misconduct in a public office, insurance fraud and perverting the course of justice.

Police launched the investigation following claims Mr Trotman’s car had been deliberately set on fire.

Mr Trotman was arrested in his office at Thames Valley Police headquarters, in Kidlington, where he is head of stategic development, on Thursday, February 11.

Officers seized his police mobile phone and laptop and took him to a Hampshire police station for DNA tests and interview under caution.

He was released on bail pending further inquiries later the same day.

The father-of-two is an ex-Royal Marine who saw action in the first Gulf War.

He was Oxford police commander for two years before his promotion to headquarters in 2007.

A Thames Valley spokesman confirmed a senior police officer had been arrested, suspended from duty and bailed pending further inquiries until Thursday, April 8.

He said: “The arrest was made by officers from the force’s professional standards department after an investigation into an allegation of arson and associated insurance claim.”

A source told the Oxford Mail Mr Trotman was removed from his office in front of colleagues. His office is one floor beneath that of Chief Constable Sara Thornton.

The arrest was made amid rumours of a private issue in Mr Trotman’s personal life, the source said.

The source added: “He is a hands-on copper and very well-respected within the force. These are extremely serious charges for anyone to face, let alone a very senior police officer. To be a chief superintendent and face allegations of misconduct in a public office, it can’t get worse than that.”

Mr Trotman joined the force in 1992, having previously served in the Royal Marines in Northern Ireland and Iraq.

He was made commander for West Berkshire before he was promoted to Oxford commander in 2005. During his two-year tenure crime fell across the city and neighbourhood policing was introduced.

A Thames Valley online biography describes Mr Trotman as living in Oxfordshire with a wife and two children, one of whom is severely autistic.

The Oxford Mail was unable to contact him yesterday.

mwilkinson@oxfordmail.co.uk