NEWS > 12 February 2007

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Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney
12 February 2007

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Metropolitan Police, UK

Rogue police on the rise, secr

LONDON: Police in Britain's biggest force are consorting with criminals, taking drugs and misusing their warrants, a secret Scotland Yard report has revealed.

A wide-ranging inquiry into corruption in London's force, carried out last month, found "inappropriate relationships or criminal associations" among police officers and civilian staff posed "significant threats" to the Metropolitan Police.

The report says more and more officers and staff are taking illegal drugs while off duty. Cocaine and cannabis are "the drugs of choice" and drug testing has been introduced for junior officers.

Further concerns include the number of police employees accused of domestic violence and sexual assault while off duty, misuse of the Police National Computer and abuse of warrants and security passes by serving and retired employees.

The report also reveals growing complaints about discriminatory behaviour by police, despite extensive anti-racism training.

The damning findings of the Strategic Intelligence Assessment, carried out by the Met's directorate of professional standards, were intended to remain secret. But the Metropolitan Police Authority released the report accidentally on its website last week, before its members were due to discuss it.

After a complaint from Scotland Yard, the report was removed from the website and the discussion on Thursday was held in camera. Asked by authority members why the session should be held in private, Assistant Commissioner John Yates, who heads the Met's anti-corruption unit, simply said: "I do not want to explain why in a public forum."

The report, by Detective Chief Superintendent Gregory Faulkner, says the assessment was intended to identify the "risk to the ethical health of the Met posed by corruption, dishonesty, unethical and unprofessional behaviour".

Under new procedures, Met officers accused of committing violent crimes while off duty will undergo a risk assessment to determine what danger they pose.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "The vast majority of Met staff are hard working and professional, but it is the responsibility of the directorate of professional standards to identify the risks posed to the organisation by the very small minority who behave in a dishonest, unethical or unprofessional manner.

"Behaviour of this sort is investigated swiftly and thoroughly and, where there is sufficient evidence of criminal behaviour, through the courts."

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Article sourced from

Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney12 February 2007

Rogue police on the rise, secr

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Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney
12 February 2007