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Police corruption: Criminals 'give officers steroids' | Police corruption: Criminals 'give officers steroids' |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Dozens of police officers are being investigated over their use of anabolic steroids supplied by criminals in gyms, an anti-corruption report has revealed. | Dozens of police officers are being investigated over their use of anabolic steroids supplied by criminals in gyms, an anti-corruption report has revealed. |
It warns that the many officers who use drugs to boost their strength risk corruption if they depend on dealers. | It warns that the many officers who use drugs to boost their strength risk corruption if they depend on dealers. |
The Association of Chief Police Officers in England and Wales ordered the report from the anti-corruption group Transparency International. | The Association of Chief Police Officers in England and Wales ordered the report from the anti-corruption group Transparency International. |
It says some officers also abuse their power to obtain sexual favours. | It says some officers also abuse their power to obtain sexual favours. |
The report urges "zero tolerance" on corruption and says forces should not "fire-fight" their way from crisis to crisis. | The report urges "zero tolerance" on corruption and says forces should not "fire-fight" their way from crisis to crisis. |
Acpo's spokesman on professional standards, Staffordshire Chief Constable Michael Cunningham, said the problems caused by officers taking steroids were "a significant threat". | |
He said almost all of the 43 forces in England and Wales were investigating police officers involved in bodybuilding who had formed inappropriate relationships with people supplying the drugs. | He said almost all of the 43 forces in England and Wales were investigating police officers involved in bodybuilding who had formed inappropriate relationships with people supplying the drugs. |
"In most forces there will be a police officer who is into bodybuilding and the gym and who would abuse steroids," he said. | "In most forces there will be a police officer who is into bodybuilding and the gym and who would abuse steroids," he said. |
Such cases would often start with officers going to gyms, starting to experiment with steroids - "then the relationships they form when they're using steroids become corrupt and corrosive", he added. | Such cases would often start with officers going to gyms, starting to experiment with steroids - "then the relationships they form when they're using steroids become corrupt and corrosive", he added. |
Hearings plan | Hearings plan |
Mr Cunningham said other top risk factors for corruption included the misuse of information systems. | Mr Cunningham said other top risk factors for corruption included the misuse of information systems. |
He said most forces were also investigating allegations against officers "abusing their position for sexual favour". | He said most forces were also investigating allegations against officers "abusing their position for sexual favour". |
Later this week, chief constables will meet to talk about how best to tackle corruption allegations. | Later this week, chief constables will meet to talk about how best to tackle corruption allegations. |
They will discuss plans including making gross misconduct hearings open to the public and the media as well as setting up ethics committees - independent of the police and crime commissioners - for each force. | They will discuss plans including making gross misconduct hearings open to the public and the media as well as setting up ethics committees - independent of the police and crime commissioners - for each force. |
In December, the Inspectorate of Constabulary called on forces to improve plans to combat corruption. | In December, the Inspectorate of Constabulary called on forces to improve plans to combat corruption. |
Investigations into corruption are rising but too few forces are gathering intelligence to prevent it happening, it found. | Investigations into corruption are rising but too few forces are gathering intelligence to prevent it happening, it found. |