UK Police Officers with criminal convictions

It was always my understanding that to be a Police Officer you could not have a criminal conviction at time of application and that anyone who incurred one during their service would likely be dismissed from the post.

Today, we find out that at least one force has (and presumably still does) employed officers who have a range of criminal convictions from assault to theft and benefits fraud to firearms convictions.

The story is reported on in Portsmouth Today.

I'm sure that on occasion there might be exceptional circumstances but by and large, do not feel the law should be upheld by convicted criminals. I'm not one and I could not recognise or accept the authority of a criminal in a uniform, could you?

Perhaps it is time for a campaign of FOIA requests to UK forces to see just how widespread this is?

Saudi Prince 'paid' by BAE

BBC

A Saudi prince received secret payments from the UK's biggest arms dealer, a BBC investigation has revealed.

BAE Systems made regular payments of hundreds of millions of pounds to Prince Bandar bin Sultan for more than a decade.

The payments were made with the full knowledge of the Ministry of Defence.

Prince Bandar would not comment and BAE systems said they acted lawfully at all times. The MoD said information about the Al Yamamah deal was confidential.

Well there's a surprise, eh?!

And what did our corrupt government do? Scuppered the investigation.

Why does nobody get angry about this? Why do we let it happen?

Despicable

BBC

A mother has been fined for abandoning her two young children alongside a busy dual carriageway on a winter afternoon.

The 44-year-old left her daughters, aged six and nine, on Northumberland's A69 after an argument.

Police were called by concerned motorists who had spotted the children at the roadside in January.

The woman admitted two charges of abandoning or exposing a child to unnecessary suffering and was fined £2,000 by Hexham magistrates.

What kind of a mother does this to her kids?

I don't know what I find most offensive - the action or the punishment.

Doesn't work in a punitive way nor does it work as a deterrent for other terrible parents.

I'd have locked her up for life. The risks she exposed these children to in such a way indicate she's clearly not stable enough to raise them and who knows what happens behind closed doors.

Another portion of 'justice' served by the state.

Totally Innocent

So Scooter Libby got his fingers burnt.

That's what happens when you are a manipulative, self absorbed arrogant fool working for an authoritarian regime.

They won't protect you if it means their neck is on the block.

I wonder what those involved in the cash for honours affair are feeling.

My heart bleeds.

It really does.

Serves the lot of them right. If they had any morals they wouldn't have allowed themselves to get into this position.

Two sleaze ridden governments. Two governments facing criminal charges, two governments loathed by the majority of the world.

Good to see the special relationship is still special!