More than two dozen serving police officers in North Wales have convictions for crimes including assault, animal cruelty and being drunk in charge of a vehicle.
A total of 26 officers continue to serve with North Wales Police despite having a conviction.
The figures have come to light following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by Glasnost UK, an independent campaign group calling for “fresh perspectives upon social and cultural issues”.
North Wales Police have 1,478 officers registered with the force and, according to the FOI, 14 had convictions before being hired and 12 officers have been kept on after being convicted of crimes.
North Wales Police said they had “vigorous recruitment vetting procedures which include a conviction check”.
In 2008 two serving officers kept their jobs despite being caught on video beating dogs. They were fined 10 days pay.
North Wales Police Federation chair Simon Newport said: “Police officers are not above the law and our integrity has to be paramount for trust and confidence. Should any officer be a suspect in a criminal matter it is double jeopardy for the officer involved. First and foremost they go through the criminal side and they are treated no different.
“Only once criminal proceedings are over is there a misconduct hearing with a deputy chief constable, a superintendent and a layperson. They decide if the officer remains in employment.”
The offences revealed are:
- Handling stolen goods – one officer with conviction prior to joining
- Assault – one officer with conviction prior to joining
- Breach of peace – one officer with conviction prior to joining
- In charge of a vehicle with excess alcohol – one officer with conviction since joining
- Fraud under the benefit act – one officer with conviction prior to joining
- Possession of a controlled drug – one officer with conviction prior to joining
- Drunk and disorderly – two officers with conviction prior to joining
- Common assault – one officer with conviction since joining
- Obtaining property by deception – one officer with conviction prior to joining
- Speeding (to the extent of disqualification) – three officers with convictions since joining
- Cruelty to animals – two officers with convictions since joining
- Criminal damage – two officers with convictions prior to joining, one since
- Data protection offence – two officers with conviction since joining
- Driving without insurance – two officers with conviction prior to joining
- Driving without due care and attention – one officer with conviction since joining
- Violence against person – one officer with conviction since joining
- Careless driving – one officer with conviction since joining
- Driving while using mobile phone – one officer with conviction since joining
- see-http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/18-types-crime-serving-north-11040405
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