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| First female navy commander removed after affair claim | First female navy commander removed after affair claim |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The first female commander of a major Royal Navy warship has been removed from her post following allegations of an affair with one of her officers. | The first female commander of a major Royal Navy warship has been removed from her post following allegations of an affair with one of her officers. |
| Cdr Sarah West, 42, took charge of Type 23 frigate HMS Portland in May 2012, but left her vessel last month. | Cdr Sarah West, 42, took charge of Type 23 frigate HMS Portland in May 2012, but left her vessel last month. |
| A Royal Navy spokesman said Cdr West had now been "removed from command" but gave no further details saying it was an "internal matter". | A Royal Navy spokesman said Cdr West had now been "removed from command" but gave no further details saying it was an "internal matter". |
| She would be reappointed to another post, the spokesman added. | She would be reappointed to another post, the spokesman added. |
| Cdr West had been on board Plymouth-based HMS Portland on a deployment since January. | |
| Last month, the Ministry of Defence confirmed it was "aware of an allegation of a breach of the code of social conduct" on board the ship, which it said it was "treating seriously". | Last month, the Ministry of Defence confirmed it was "aware of an allegation of a breach of the code of social conduct" on board the ship, which it said it was "treating seriously". |
| The code governs personal relationships, which are not permitted if they compromise operational effectiveness. | The code governs personal relationships, which are not permitted if they compromise operational effectiveness. |
| Confirming her removal, a Royal Navy spokesman said the case was an "internal matter between the individual and her senior officers". | Confirming her removal, a Royal Navy spokesman said the case was an "internal matter between the individual and her senior officers". |
| "Cdr West will continue to serve in the Royal Navy and she will be reappointed to a post where her skills and experience can be used to best effect," the spokesman added. | "Cdr West will continue to serve in the Royal Navy and she will be reappointed to a post where her skills and experience can be used to best effect," the spokesman added. |
| The spokesman said Cdr West's second-in-command had taken over the running of HMS Portland. | The spokesman said Cdr West's second-in-command had taken over the running of HMS Portland. |
| When she took up her post in May 2012, Cdr West said it was "definitely the highlight of my 16 years in the Royal Navy so far". | When she took up her post in May 2012, Cdr West said it was "definitely the highlight of my 16 years in the Royal Navy so far". |
| Cdr West, who grew up in Lincolnshire and joined the Royal Navy in 1995, previously commanded four minesweepers. There has been no confirmation that Cdr West had a relationship with a fellow officer. | Cdr West, who grew up in Lincolnshire and joined the Royal Navy in 1995, previously commanded four minesweepers. There has been no confirmation that Cdr West had a relationship with a fellow officer. |