‘Criminal thugs working for UK police’

British police have employed forces including men and women with criminal record ranging from robbery to drug smuggling and forgery, an official report said.

The report requested under the Freedom of Information revealed that more than 900 serving police officers and community support officers in England and Wales have committed a crime including burglary, causing death by careless driving, robbery, supplying drugs, domestic violence, forgery and perverting the course of justice, British media reported.

According to the report, the Metropolitan Police employed senior officers with criminal records, among them two detective chief inspectors and one chief inspector.

“At least 944 currently serving officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) have a conviction, according to figures released by 33 of the 43 forces in England and Wales in response to Freedom of Information requests”, said the reports.

The Metropolitan Police, Britain’s largest force, came top with 356 officers and 41 PCSOs with convictions.

It was followed by Kent Police (49), Devon and Cornwall Police (44), Essex Police (42), South Yorkshire Police (35), Hampshire Police (31) and West Midlands Police (27), although not all the figures are directly comparable.

This is while that Home Office guidelines issued in 2003 say police officers should have ‘proven integrity’ because they are vulnerable to pressure from criminals to reveal information.

The guidance says forces should reject potential recruits with convictions for serious offences – including causing actual bodily harm, burglary, dangerous driving and supplying drugs – unless there are ‘exceptionally compelling circumstances’.

Meanwhile, hundreds of police officers facing misconduct allegations are being allowed to escape punishment by quitting their forces.

More than 130 employees were permitted by chief officers to walk out of Scotland Yard over the past year instead of facing a misconduct panel.

The force sacked 43 officers over that same period, figures show.