A retired policeman stated this week that individual police officers were defrauding businesses of thousands of pounds in a 'security' scam.

Businesses requesting consultation on security - a service provided free of charge by Essex police - are allegedly being told to pay up £30,000 a time for an additional 'risk assessment'. According to the ex-policeman, who worked for Essex police for nearly 30 years and now provides security services to public venues, there are two policemen - a man and a woman - known to be involved in the scam. He is too afraid to report it, fearing intimidation by ex-colleagues who could put him out of business.

Additionally, he claimed that some ex-policemen are involved in illegal surveillance techniques in corporate espionage, including gathering intelligence on animal rights activists. Allegedly, they are getting away with it due to their police contacts and because they can give police information they cannot get via legal channels.

These are the claims of one man and have not been substantiated with any evidence. Of course, he may have his own axe to grind. But if these claims are true, then it proves that the police are unaccountable and out of control.