17 officers fall foul of the law

SEVENTEEN Bedfordshire police officers, including three sergeants, have been arrested over criminal allegations in the last four years.

Six of these officers were convicted of criminal offences, including child pornography, speeding, and assault.

And two of these policemen were arrested while on duty, including one officer who was fined for drink-driving and subsequently lost his job.

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Bedfordshire Police said it takes the investigation of allegations against officers “extremely seriously” and strives for the “highest professional standards”.

The figures, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, show the allegations against the 17 Bedfordshire police officers occurred between 2008 and 2011.

During this period the force arrested a total of 14 police constables and three sergeants.

Bedfordshire Police could not provide the criminal outcome of all of the cases and said one investigation is still outstanding.

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The outcome of a case when a police constable was arrested in 2011 for sexual assault and having indecent images on a computer is also unknown.

It is not specified whether the officer was arrested on or off duty, but the figures show they are no longer serving. in the force

Bedfordshire Police currently employs around 1,179 police officers, including 879 police constables and 205 sergeants.

Of the 17 officers arrested in 2008-11, 10 either resigned or were dismissed, and seven are still serving.

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The figures also show that, of the six officers who were convicted, two remained in their posts. One of the officers was fined and received six penalty points for speeding while on duty. The other served a 12-month community work order for assault while off duty.

In total four of the policemen were arrested during working hours over the four-year period.

Eleven of the arrests were made while officers were off duty, and the remaining two are unknown.

A Bedfordshire Police spokesman said: “Bedfordshire Police strives for the highest professional standards from its staff at all times and takes the investigation of allegations extremely seriously.

“The public is entitled to demand the highest standard of conduct from those who are employed by Bedfordshire Police and we shall continue to investigate all allegations made robustly.”