Deputy police and crime commissioner suspended over murder probe claim

A deputy police and crime commissioner has been suspended after a complaint she may have interfered with a murder investigation.

An internal inquiry has been launched into West Midlands deputy Yvonne Mosquito after a claim she had inappropriate contact with the family of an 18-year-old man shot dead in Birmingham last week.

Kenichi Phillips's death is currently the focus of an intensive murder investigation by West Midlands Police detectives after the shooting in St Mark's Crescent on March 17.

He is the fourth person to be shot and killed in the city in six months.

Ms Mosquito, who earns £65,000 a year in the post, is also a serving Labour Party councillor on Birmingham City Council.

In a statement, the chief executive of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Jardine said: "Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Yvonne Mosquito has been suspended from her post with immediate effect.

"An internal investigation is under way into potential gross misconduct following concerns raised about interference into operational policing regarding an on-going serious investigation."

One man has been arrested and released on police bail over father-to-be Mr Phillips's shooting, but there have been no further arrests.

It is also understood the police have issued a threat-to-life Osman warning to one person in connection with the investigation.