And remember - it's not just shoplifting - there are 1,063 serving officers with criminal records, including 59 for assault, 36 for theft and 96 for dishonesty. Other offences include battery, fraud, perverting the course of justice and forgery - all no doubt causded by the poverty they face by choosing a selfless life as a police officer.
Case 1:Peter Cokell has been handed a suspended prison sentence yesterday (2nd Dec) and ordered to carry out 70 hours of unpaid work after taking the PlayStation 3 games from The Mall at Cribbs Causeway by concealing them under his body armour.
District Judge David Parsons said the theft was a "gross breach of trust" and had damaged confidence in Avon and Somerset police.
Cokell, 34, of Wick, South Gloucestershire, was found guilty by District Judge Parsons after a trial during which CCTV footage showed him committing the crime he had spent six years trying to stamp out.
Peter Cokell has been handed a suspended prison sentence and ordered to carry out 70 hours of unpaid work after taking the PlayStation 3 games from The Mall at Cribbs Causeway by concealing them under his body armour.
Case 2:
Chief Inspector Kim Molloy, from Nottinghamshire Police, was arrested at Tesco Extra in Top Valley Drive, Top Valley, Nottingham 28th November.
She has now been bailed pending further inquiries but not suspended.
A Nottinghamshire Police spokesman said: "A 44-year-old woman was arrested in connection with the incident and has been bailed until February 2010."
He confirmed Ch Insp Molloy had not been suspended from the force.
Case 3:
Two high-ranking police officers have been suspended over allegations they stole bottles of wine from a Marks & Spencer store.
Lovers, Chief Inspector Sharon Rowe, 44, and Detective Chief Inspector Jim Torbet, thought to be in his 50s, were questioned by officers from their own force last October. No prosecution followed.
Comments
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reality check
02.12.2009 19:46
Also remember that as with all civil servants they fall twice and will,if convicted, recieve the maximum band sentencing.
anon by right
First the Bosses. Then the Cops.
02.12.2009 21:14
I wouldn't say so - of these "beacons of law and order" I'd call 0.25% low.
ACAB
Re: reality check
03.12.2009 09:33
"Also remember that as with all civil servants they fall twice and will,if convicted, recieve the maximum band sentencing."
This is disingenuous, courts take a dim view of people who abuse positions of trust for personal gain. This applies to everyone, not just police employees.
The real story here is that when the police stand up in court their word is worth more than anyone else's. This story shows the police to be no more trustworthy than anyone else, maybe less so (as if we needed telling this). This raises a lot of questions for miscarriages of justice and abuse of power by the police.
Anon
Woop Woop
03.12.2009 09:50
To be honest 2% is a ridiculously low amount. Just the people reading this have probably been assaulted by more than 2% of the UK police force, they are just never charged. Not to mention all the other illegal stuff that most MET cops get up to.
As noted after the G20, cops breaking the law has to be one of the most twisted percentages around.
Howard
"[cops]... recieve the maximum band sentencing."
03.12.2009 10:00
"Also remember that as with all civil servants they fall twice and will,if convicted, recieve [sic] the maximum band sentencing."
Are you for real? These crybabies will complain how they will rightly get treated like shit in prison and get let off with a slap on the wrist.
Also remember the 2,000 are just the ones who have been caught. Cops are in a very strong position to break the law and get away with it. I've heard stories from people with cops as relatives that they would always have loads of free drugs because people arrested would often ditch their stash in the back of the patrol car and they would just scoop them up at the end of the day. Not to mention all the beatings from filth people here must have had over the years.
Sounds like you have been living in a bubble wrapped in cotton wool your whole life, and it is YOU needs a reality check,
anon
answer
03.12.2009 21:18
I am a civil servant (NHS btw)
"Also remember the 2,000 are just the ones who have been caught. Cops are in a very strong position to break the law and get away with it."
The polices internal investigations use entrapment, false flag, mail snoops, locker sweeps and much more besides. The cop pay march had so many "DPS" there it was apparently a running joke.
" I've heard stories from people with cops as relatives that they would always have loads of free drugs because people arrested would often ditch their stash in the back of the patrol car and they would just scoop them up at the end of the day. Not to mention all the beatings from filth people here must have had over the years."
If that is true, and I have no reason to disbelieve you, why not call the DPS annonimously through crime stoppers and report them. It has been done and every call HAS to be investigated because it can be checked under the DPA.
"Sounds like you have been living in a bubble wrapped in cotton wool your whole life, and it is YOU needs a reality check"
I work in the ambulace service,previous to that I have done things that have put me inside a cell more than once. I have met cops that I didnt like, been on the rough end a few times, I just chose to talk to the cops not to let pointless political BS cloud my judgement, I try to treat everyone as an individual.
Anon by right