A senior police officer and his wife are to appear in court after being charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice over a speeding offence.
Assistant Chief Constable Gordon Fraser, 48, from Leicestershire Police, and his wife Teresa, also a serving officer, will appear before magistrates in St Albans later this week.
It is alleged Mrs Fraser, 42, a serving officer with West Midlands Police, accepted responsibility for a speeding offence committed by her husband in Strathclyde last September.
The couple, from Warwickshire, were charged earlier this month after an investigation by Hertfordshire Police on behalf of Leicestershire Police Authority and in consultation with the CPS.
Baljit Ubhey, chief Crown prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service, said: "A criminal complaint was made alleging that Mrs Fraser had accepted responsibility for a speeding offence allegedly committed by Mr Fraser on 29 September 2011 in Strathclyde.
"Following an investigation by Hertfordshire Constabulary, a file was forwarded to us to consider whether any criminal charges could be brought against Mr and Mrs Fraser.
"Having carefully considered all of the available evidence, we concluded that there is sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against Mr and Mrs Fraser and therefore, authorised Hertfordshire Constabulary to charge them with doing acts tending to pervert the course of justice. They were charged on Wednesday 4 July 2012.
"The essence of the charge is that Mr Fraser, having allegedly committed a speeding offence, falsely informed the investigating authorities that Mrs Fraser had been the driver of the vehicle in question, and she falsely accepted responsibility for the speeding offence.
"The decision to charge was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.
"I remind all concerned that Mr and Mrs Fraser now stand charged with criminal offences and that they each have a right to a fair trial. It is very important that nothing is said, or reported, which could prejudice their trial."
The pair were released on police bail and are due to appear at St Albans Magistrates' Court on Friday.
A spokesman from West Midlands Police confirmed Mrs Fraser had been suspended from duty, pending the outcome of the court proceedings.
He also confirmed that her husband had worked for the force before moving to Leicestershire Police.
Leicestershire Police confirmed that Mr Fraser had been suspended from duty relating to a separate matter which was being dealt with by Merseyside Police.
A spokesman at Merseyside Police said: "Merseyside Police can confirm that Chief Constable Jon Murphy is conducting an investigation into a Leicestershire Constabulary officer, two officers from West Midlands Police and a member of the public following allegations of gross misconduct and fraud.
"The investigation is currently ongoing so it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."
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