Former police detective held after body of WPC is found

An investigation has been launched after a police woman was murdered and her body dumped in a wooded area in West Sussex .

A 35-year-old man, believed to be the woman's partner and himself a former police detective, has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Officers from Surrey Police were called to an address in Haslemere, Surrey, at 11.30pm on Sunday, after a member of the public raised concerns over the safety of the woman.

"Following inquiries officers then went to Blackdown Woods near Lurgashall, where a search of the woodland led to the discovery of the body of a woman in her 30s," said a spokesman for Surrey Police.

Police cordoned off the area of woodland, around four miles from the woman's house, and forensic officers were on site yesterday, the spokesman said.

The woman, a detective constable with Surrey police, has not yet been formally identified and a post-mortem examination is expected to take place today at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford .

The 35-year-old man remained in police custody last night, and Surrey Police asked anyone with information to come forward.