UK Space Command chief suspended during investigation

Air Vice-Marshal Jamie Thompson has been suspended without prejudice as head of UK Space Command while an investigation is underway, the Royal Air Force said. Air Commodore Darren Whiteley has been appointed interim commander, while authorities say a separate investigation into an alleged serious sexual offence involving an adult remains ongoing. A Defence Serious Crime Command spokesperson said a member of the RAF had been arrested in connection with reports of theft and the alleged sexual offence. The spokesperson said the theft investigation had concluded and was referred to the Service Prosecuting Authority for a charging decision. No decision on whether to bring a charge was reported. The official statement did not identify the arrested person or provide details of the allegations. Separate reports attributed accusations that Thompson attacked an employee and stole from the Ministry of Defence to unnamed sources, but those particulars were not included in the official account. The reports reviewed did not include a response from Thompson to the allegations. The allegations have not been established, and the sexual-offence investigation remains active.