44 police serve with criminal record - MP

FORTY-four serving police officers in Greater Manchester have a criminal record, new figures have revealed.

Figures released by the Liberal Democrats show the GMP officers have been convicted of a crime but not been dismissed from the force.

According to the information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, all the offences were committed while the police were in post.

GMP did not provide a breakdown of the offences as other forces did.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said the public would be staggered that so many of the people entrusted to protect us from crime have criminal convictions themselves.

“It is even more worrying that so many police officers convicted of serious crimes involving dishonesty or violence have been allowed to keep their jobs,” he said.

“The public entrust the police with the use of legal force precisely because they are self-disciplined, which is why anyone convicted of a violent offence should be dismissed.”

Nationally, 1,063 officers serving in 41 forces have been found guilty of an offence, including assault, kerb crawling and perverting the course of justice.

There are 77 serving policemen with convictions for violent offences, and 36 with convictions for theft.

Only 210 officers have been dismissed or required to resign in the past five years for further criminal convictions.

Mr Huhne added: “I cannot see how a police officer convicted of dishonesty can perform their duty effectively.”

Mr Huhne said it made no sense that the Home Office issued guidance to forces on crimes that bar applicants from the force, including actual bodily harm and fraud, but not if they are convicted while serving.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) confirmed that officers convicted of serious crimes may remain in post.

Government rules set out a range of alternatives to dismissal, including a reprimand, fine or demotion. It is up to individual forces to make their own judgements.

Greater Manchester Chief Constable Peter Fahy, ACPO lead for workforce development, said: “Where an officer has committed misconduct, each case is judged on its merit, taking into consideration a range of factors, including how the offence reflects on an officer’s integrity.”