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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 for using anabolic steroids supplied by criminals in gyms, a report has revealed. | Dozens of police officers are being investigated for using anabolic steroids supplied by criminals in gyms, a report has revealed. |
| It also says some officers abuse their power to obtain sexual favours. | It also says some officers abuse their power to obtain sexual favours. |
| 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. |
| The Police Federation of England and Wales said a "very low" number of officers tested positive for drugs. | The Police Federation of England and Wales said a "very low" number of officers tested positive for drugs. |
| Transparency International is a non-governmental group which monitors corporate and political corruption. | Transparency International is a non-governmental group which monitors corporate and political corruption. |
| Its report urges "zero tolerance" on corruption and says forces should not "fire-fight" their way from crisis to crisis. | Its 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" to the integrity and professionalism of the police service. | Acpo's spokesman on professional standards, Staffordshire Chief Constable Michael Cunningham, said the problems caused by officers taking steroids were "a significant threat" to the integrity and professionalism of the police service. |
| Mr Cunningham 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. | Mr Cunningham 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. |
| George Gallimore, lead officer on drugs issues for the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: "Officers should be dealt with appropriately under misconduct regulations if they are found to be taking drugs. | George Gallimore, lead officer on drugs issues for the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: "Officers should be dealt with appropriately under misconduct regulations if they are found to be taking drugs. |
| "Random drug tests are already carried out and there is a very low percentage of officers who test positive." | "Random drug tests are already carried out and there is a very low percentage of officers who test positive." |
| Nicole Sapstead is director of operations at the UK Anti-Doping organisation, which is the principal advisor to the government on drug-free sport in the UK. | Nicole Sapstead is director of operations at the UK Anti-Doping organisation, which is the principal advisor to the government on drug-free sport in the UK. |
| She said: "As well as being performance-enhancing, steroids carry serious health risks for the individual using them, which is why they are included in the World Anti-Doping Agency's list of prohibited substances in sport. | She said: "As well as being performance-enhancing, steroids carry serious health risks for the individual using them, which is why they are included in the World Anti-Doping Agency's list of prohibited substances in sport. |
| "We work closely with law enforcement agencies such as the police to sanction anyone committing a breach of the rules." | "We work closely with law enforcement agencies such as the police to sanction anyone committing a breach of the rules." |
| 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". |
| Responding to these specific claims, a Police Federation spokesman said: "We do not condone such behaviour. However, these incidents are extremely rare and there are misconduct procedures in place to cover such allegations." | Responding to these specific claims, a Police Federation spokesman said: "We do not condone such behaviour. However, these incidents are extremely rare and there are misconduct procedures in place to cover such allegations." |
| 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. |