19 criminals target jobs in Notts police
NINETEEN convicted offenders applied to become police officers or force staff over a 14-month period, it has been revealed.
But tough vetting procedures used by Notts Police meant details of their law-breaking past were uncovered and their applications rejected.
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Crime boss Colin Gunn used a junior detective to find out what intelligence the force had on him
The force's vetting unit was introduced just over four years ago after corrupt officers assisted crime boss Colin Gunn.
The 19 offenders rejected were among 51 officer and administration staff applications turned down by the force between November 1, 2008, and December 31, 2009.
Of the applications by convicted offenders, five were for police officer posts, six for special constable jobs, one for a PCSO vacancy, and seven for police staff positions.
A Notts police spokesman said: "We vet rigorously as a deterrent to any organised crime group that may try to infiltrate the police service. This ensures that the high standards of integrity the public expect of Notts Police are maintained.
"It also prevents an applicant's previous convictions potentially undermining a criminal case where their evidence could be challenged."
The spokesman would not say if any of the 19 rejected applications were from criminals linked to established gangs.
The dedicated vetting unit was created at the end of 2005 after Bestwood crime boss Colin Gunn received a nine-year sentence for using a junior detective to find out what intelligence the force had on him.
PC Charles Fletcher, of Arnold, was caught when officers bugged his phones and computer at Radford Road station in Hyson Green. He was jailed for seven years in October 2006. PC Phil Parr was also jailed for 12 months, after the biggest anti-corruption operation in the force's history.
Speaking after the operation's conclusion, Det Supt Russ Foster said: "It would be extremely naive for any law enforcement agency to say there are no more corrupt officers in their organisation. Any officer besmirching the name of Notts police is a criminal and we will not shy away from bringing them to justice."
guy.woodford@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk
14 Comments
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by Mr. Sensible, The Real World
Monday, February 08 2010, 10:47PM
“Yeah, 'MadBadger', because rich far-lefties have LOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAADDDDDSSSSS of integrity.
You upper-middle class cretin.”
by MadBadger, The Sett
Monday, February 08 2010, 10:28PM
“Steve, I hear that some of them had far-right links that brought their integrity into question.
And the rest of the applicants were failed asylum seekers.”
by Steve, Notts
Monday, February 08 2010, 10:06PM
“What we have here is 19 boys and girls mainly working class who may have family who are known to the law and who themselves may be of the highest integrity. Yet are rejected for the police due to family connections many of these people if selected carefully would make wonderful officers instead of the shower of middle class Muppets masquerading as police officers we have now . There should be a law against such discrimination as with race, age and sex. We can¿t end up with a much worst bunch of crooks than we have at the moment.”
by Judge Deed, at the bar !!
Monday, February 08 2010, 8:51PM
“try Westminster get a job there no problem”
by Ali Dizaei, In the slammer
Monday, February 08 2010, 8:06PM
“Any chance of a job when I get out?
I mean, you need to fill diversity quotas, so never mind about criminal records.”
by m, gedling
Monday, February 08 2010, 7:16PM
“theres nothing worse than a criminal in uniform, ask anyone at the met.”
by paulie, notts
Monday, February 08 2010, 4:30PM
“sdfs”
by Andrew, Wales
Monday, February 08 2010, 3:16PM
“A simple PNC check reveals criminal convictions, hardly rocket science. Furthermore there are refences from previous employees etc. Bearing in mind all of these 19 applicants had criminal; records, it does not stop the likes of Pc Fletcher (a Police constable not a Detective) who joined the Police with clean records. No amount of checks will unearth criminal association, or highlight whether individuals are 'potentially' corrupt. Nothings changed really, just a poor effort by the Police to make us believe they are rooting out corruption.”
by Disillusioned, UK
Monday, February 08 2010, 12:55PM
“That`s five of the failed applicants accounted for then?”
by Gwen, nottingham
Monday, February 08 2010, 12:19PM
“the sergent who had apaddy and threw his paperwork in the bin, was the same chap who in the post stood up to defend his officers over their public attitude. I have given him 2 years to apoligise for his outburst but still i wait. I have the video for proof.”