More than 200 serving police officers in the UK have convictions for criminal offences including assault, burglary, drug possession and animal cruelty, Sky News can reveal.
Forces across the country employ at least 211 police officers and PCSOs who were guilty of crimes, according to data released under the Freedom of Information Act.
The actual number is likely to be much higher, however, after just a third of forces revealed how many of their officers have criminal convictions, with many claiming it would cost too much to retrieve the information.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) told Sky News that having a criminal record has “never been an automatic bar to joining the police” and insisted officers are vetted “throughout their service”.
But Steven Smith, who was assaulted in Bristol by an officer who was allowed to keep his job, said he believes anyone with a conviction for violence should be banned from working for the police.
He told Sky News: “Obviously everyone makes mistakes but when it’s a violent assault, I don’t believe they should (be able to work for the police).
“You’d expect police men and women to have no convictions.”
Mr Smith, 45, said he was “gutted and upset” to learn that the officer who was convicted of assaulting him in 2014 continued working for Avon and Somerset Police.
“You should be able to go to the police and their judgement should be above board and impeccable at all times,” he added.
Integrity in policing has been under the spotlight in recent weeks following widespread protests over the killing of George Floyd while in police custody in the US.
Among the UK forces to reveal how many of their serving police officers have criminal convictions:
- The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said 99 serving officers had received criminal convictions while employed by the force. The offences included death by careless driving, common assault, harassment and possession of a firearm/drunk in charge of a firearm
- North Wales Police said 20 police officers and five PCSOs have criminal convictions, including a sergeant convicted of assault, two officers guilty of drug possession and two officers convicted of cruelty to animals
- Kent Police said 22 serving officers have been convicted of crimes, including five officers ranked “inspector or above”. The offences included common assault, criminal damage and drink driving
- Fourteen Avon and Somerset Police officers have convictions for crimes such as assault, burglary, theft and obtaining money by deception
- Seven Dorset Police officers have criminal convictions including a constable convicted of burglary and ABH, and a constable guilty of causing unnecessary cruelty to a protected animal
- Devon and Cornwall Police said nine serving police constables have convictions for crimes including drink driving and Data Protection Act offences
- Norfolk Police said three officers have criminal convictions including a constable guilty of battery and another constable convicted of possessing an imitation firearm in a public place
- Cheshire Police said 18 serving police officers or PCSOs have been convicted of crimes but refused to reveal any further details, saying it would breach the Data Protection Act
It comes after Sky News submitted freedom of information requests to the UK’s 45 territorial police forces as well as British Transport Police and the Ministry of Defence Police.
Just 16 forces revealed how many of their officers had criminal convictions, with the Metropolitan Police, Police Scotland, Greater Manchester Police and Merseyside Police among those that did not provide the information.
Several forces said retrieving their records on police officers with criminal convictions would exceed the cost limit set out by the Freedom of Information Act.
Thames Valley Police said it would be a “disproportionate and unjustified diversion of policing resources” during the coronavirus epidemic.
Meanwhile, Nottinghamshire Police said the request for the information was “vexatious” – meaning it intends to cause annoyance, frustration or worry.
Home Office guidelines state that police forces “should not recruit people with cautions or convictions, which may call into question the integrity of the applicant or the service”.
But the guidance states that “each case should be dealt with on its individual merits”.
Chief Constable Craig Guildford, the NPCC’s lead for professional standards, told Sky News that “having a criminal record has never been an automatic bar to joining the police or many other public sector professions”.
He added: “Applicants must declare their convictions and every case is assessed and considered by vetting departments using national guidance.
“We review what someone was convicted of, the sentence they received, how old they were at the time, what the circumstances were and how long ago it was. We also re-vet officers throughout their service and have higher levels of vetting for particular posts.
“The vast majority of police officers and staff fulfil their duties in serving the public to the highest standard.
“Society rightly expects the police service to act with honesty and integrity and any instance of conduct falling below that standard, or when a crime has been committed, will be dealt with directly based upon the evidence presented as nobody is above the law.”
A Home Office spokeswoman said: “There are around 125,000 police officers in England and Wales, the overall majority of whom carry out their duties with the utmost professionalism and integrity and are committed to keeping the public safe.
“Forces are required to adhere to a stringent vetting code when recruiting and we have introduced reforms to strengthen the disciplinary system and ensure that the small minority of individuals who fall short of the high standards their peers and the public expect of them are held fully accountable.”
In Your Area:
Police forces across the UK employ at least 211 officers and PCSOs who have been convicted of criminal offences, a Sky News investigation has found.
But the actual number is likely to be much higher as just a third of UK police forces revealed how many of their serving officers had broken the law.
Sky News sent freedom of information requests to the UK’s 45 territorial police forces, as well as British Transport Police and the Ministry of Defence Police, asking for details of police officers’ convictions.
Here is a breakdown of their responses. For the full story, click here.
Avon and Somerset Police said 14 serving officers had criminal convictions – 13 police constables and a sergeant.
- Two officers have been convicted of burglary
- Two officers have been convicted of common assault
- Two officers have been convicted of theft
- Four officers have been convicted of disorder
- One officer has been convicted of a S39 assault
- One officer has been convicted of criminal damage
- One officer has been convicted of obtaining money by deception
- One officer has been convicted of careless driving
Bedfordshire Police refused to reveal if any serving officers have criminal convictions, saying it would cost too much to retrieve the information.
British Transport Police refused to reveal how many officers had been convicted of criminal offences, saying it would cost too much to retrieve the information.
Cambridgeshire Police said two serving officers had criminal convictions but refused to provide any further details, saying there would be “harm in disclosure”.
Cheshire Police said 18 police officers or PCSOs employed by the force have criminal convictions but refused to provide any further information, saying it would breach the Data Protection Act.
City of London Police said it did not currently employ any officers with criminal convictions.
Cleveland Police refused to reveal how many of their officers had been convicted of criminal offences, saying it would take too much time to retrieve the information.
Cumbria Police refused to reveal how many officers currently employed by the force have criminal convictions, saying it would cost too much to retrieve the information.
Derbyshire Police refused to reveal how many of their serving officers have criminal convictions, saying it would cost too much to retrieve the information.
Devon and CornwallPolice said nine serving police officers have criminal convictions.
- A police constable has a conviction for drink driving
- A police constable has a conviction for Data Protection Act offences
- A police constable has a conviction for careless driving
- Two police constables have convictions for speeding
- Four police constables have convictions for driving without due care and attention
Dorset Police said seven officers employed by the force have criminal convictions.
- A constable has convictions for burglary and ABH
- A constable has convictions for theft and ABH
- A constable has a conviction for causing unnecessary cruelty to a protected animal
- A sergeant has a conviction for theft by finding
- A sergeant has a conviction for unauthorised taking of a vehicle/cycle
- A sergeant has a conviction for a public order offence
- A constable has a conviction for a public order offence
Sky News did not receive a response from Durham Police.
Dyfed Powys Police refused to reveal how many officers had been convicted of criminal offences, saying it would cost too much and take too much time to retrieve the information.
Essex Police said a PCSO had been convicted of drink driving and driving offences.
Gloucestershire Police refused to reveal how many officers had criminal convictions, saying it would cost too much and take too much time to retrieve the information.
Sky News did not receive a response from Greater Manchester Police.
Sky News did not receive a response from Gwent Police.
Sky News did not receive a response from Hampshire Police.
Hertfordshire Police said no serving officers have criminal convictions.
Humberside Police said no serving officers have criminal convictions.
Kent Police said 22 serving officers have criminal convictions including five officers ranked “inspector or above”.
- An “inspector or above” has a conviction for common assault
- An “inspector or above” has convictions for criminal damage and speeding
- A constable has a conviction for common assault
- An “inspector or above” has a conviction for “excess breath alcohol”
- Two “inspectors or above” have convictions for driving without due care
- A sergeant has a conviction for driving without due care and “excess breath alcohol”
- Six constables have convictions for speeding
- Four sergeants have convictions for speeding
- A constable has a conviction for driving without due care
- Two constables have convictions for careless driving
- A constable has a conviction for using mobile whilst driving
- A constable has a conviction of driving without due care
Lancashire Police refused to reveal how many of their officers had been convicted of criminal offences, saying it would cost too much to retrieve the information.
Leicestershire Police said two serving police officers have criminal convictions but did not reveal their ranks.
- One officer was convicted of public order and malicious communications
- One officer was convicted over computer misuse and data protection
Leicestershire Police said it did not hold information on officers or PCSOs who received a criminal conviction prior to joining the force.
Sky News did not receive a response from Lincolnshire Police.
Merseyside Police said it needed more time to decide whether to release the information after a month considering the freedom of information request.
TheMetropolitan Police said it needed more time to decide whether to release the information after a month considering the freedom of information request.
The Ministry of Defence Police said seven serving police officers have criminal convictions, although data was only held from 2013.
- A police constable has a conviction for criminal damage
- A police constable has a conviction for breach of the peace
- Five police constables have convictions for speeding
Norfolk Police said three serving officers had criminal convictions, all of which happened before they joined the force.
- A constable was convicted of battery
- A constable was convicted of possessing an imitation firearm in a public place
- A constable was convicted of having a fraudulent vehicle excise licence
North Wales Police said 20 officers and five PCSOs employed by the force have criminal convictions.
- A sergeant has a conviction for assault
- A sergeant and a constable have convictions for drug possession
- A sergeant and a constable have convictions for cruelty to animals
- Two constables have convictions for common assault
- A PCSO has a conviction for a S39 assault
- Three constables have convictions for criminal damage
- Two constables and two PCSOs have convictions for being drunk and disorderly
- A constable has a conviction for obtaining property by deception
- A constable has a conviction for a data protection offence
- Three constables and two PCSOs have convictions for disorderly behaviour
- A constable has a conviction for excess alcohol
- A constable has a conviction for a S4 Public Order Act offence
- A constable has a conviction for buying alcohol while under age
Sky News did not receive a response from North Yorkshire Police.
Northamptonshire Police refused to reveal how many officers had criminal convictions, saying it would cost too much to retrieve the information and it would breach the Data Protection Act.
Northumbria Police refused to reveal how many of their officers had criminal convictions, saying retrieving the information would cost too much.
Nottinghamshire Police refused to provide the information, saying the request was “vexatious” – meaning it intends to cause annoyance, frustration, or worry.
Police Scotland refused to provide the information, saying retrieving it would cost too much and take too much time.
ThePolice Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said 99 serving officers had received criminal convictions while employed by the force; five were sergeants and the rest were constables.
The offences included:
- Death by careless driving
- Common assault
- Harassment
- Possession of a firearm/drunk in charge of a firearm
- Grievous bodily injury by careless driving
- Driving with excess alcohol
- Breach of data protection
- Excess speed
The PSNI said doing a manual trawl to provide the total number of serving officers with criminal convictions, including those convicted of offences before they joined the force, would exceed the time threshold set out by the Freedom of Information Act.
South Yorkshire Police refused to reveal how many of their officers had been convicted of criminal offences, saying the information would cost too much to retrieve, it would breach the Data Protection Act and investigations “may be compromised”.
Sky News did not receive a response from South Wales Police.
Staffordshire Police refused to reveal how many of their officers had been convicted of criminal offences, saying it would cost too much to retrieve the information.
Suffolk Police said two serving officers had criminal convictions, which happened after they joined the force.
- A constable was convicted of common assault
- A constable was convicted of breaching the Data Protection Act
Sky News did not receive a response from Surrey Police.
Sky News did not receive a response from Sussex Police.
Thames Valley Police refused to provide the information, saying it would be a “disproportionate and unjustified diversion of policing resources” during the coronavirus epidemic.
Warwickshire Police refused to provide the information, saying it would cost too much to reveal how many officers had been convicted of offences.
Sky News did not receive a response from West Mercia Police.
Sky News did not receive a response from West Midlands Police.
Sky News did not receive a response from West Yorkshire Police.
Wiltshire Police refused to provide the information, saying it would cost too much to retrieve it and it would breach the Data Protection Act.
