A POLICE force which vowed to clear a town of its red light image has suspended one of its officers for allegedly molesting prostitutes.

Cleveland Police has confirmed that a beat officer at Middlesbrough has been suspended, following a complaint by a prostitute.

He is the second officer to be suspended in the past six months for allegedly molesting women.

Chief Superintendent Adrian Roberts, district commander at Middlesbrough, launched the latest inquiry after the call girl complained that she had been attacked after being taken from the town's red light district.

The 24-year-old woman alleged that the officer ordered her into the back of his van for a search before driving to an isolated industrial estate.

After ordering her to remove clothing, he is said to have indecently assaulted the woman, who fled from the van and alerted another police officer.

The 32-year-old officer has been suspended from duty. It is believed that other prostitutes have made complaints about the same officer.

For the past three years, Cleveland Police has maintained a high-profile "name and shame" campaign aimed at ridding Middlesbrough of its tag as the prostitution capital of the North.

The move came after home owners complained that prostitutes had moved from the traditional dock area into the residential area on the edge of the town centre.

Local men complained that they were propositioned as they walked home and local women - as young as 14 - were accosted by kerb crawlers wanting sex, or by prostitutes trying to recruit them on to the game.

Since the purge began, more than 280 men have found themselves summonsed to appear in court on kerb crawling charges, including a vicar, doctors, a surgeon and a police officer from Manchester.

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said yesterday: "I can confirm a 32-year-old officer has been suspended from duty, following an allegation of inappropriate behaviour.