More than 40 Midland police officers and PCSOs have been convicted of criminal offences – including sex attacks – in just three years. A total of 41 cops from the West Midlands and West Mercia forces were dealt with at court since 2012. And the true figure may be even higher as Staffordshire and Warwickshire both refused to respond for requests for information.
West Midlands Police said 35 officers had been convicted of offences since 2012. They included a male officer convicted in 2012 of gross indecency with a girl under 16. In 2014 another male officer was convicted of sexual activity with a child under 16. A female detective sergeant was convicted last year of allowing a dog to worry sheep. And in the same year a female police officer was convicted of harassing an ex-partner.
Twenty-five serving police officers and PCSOs had convictions, the force said.
Former West Midlands officer Osman Iqbal was jailed for more than seven years last September for his part in running a £1 million-plus sex and drugs racket. A court heard the 36-year-old played a "leading role" in an organised crime group which controlled £300-an-hour call girls in London’s West End. Iqbal and three cousins took charge of two “high class” brothels where cocaine was supplied to customers. His cover was blown when he arrived at work in a £170,000 Ferrari,
A Home Office spokesman said: “The vast majority of police officers in this country do their job honestly and with integrity. They put themselves in harm’s way to protect the public. But the good work of the majority threatens to be damaged by a continuing series of events and revelations relating to police conduct.
“Over the last two years the Home Office has introduced a programme of measures to improve standards of behaviour in the police.
“They include making the disciplinary system more independent and transparent through introducing hearings in public, preventing officers resigning or retiring to avoid dismissal, and – from next year – introducing legally-qualified, independent chairs on misconduct hearing panels.
“The Government will finish the job of police reform and introduce legislation later this year.”
