Cumbria Police hiring officers with criminal records

According to data obtained by The Mail, Cumbria Police is recruiting officers with previous convictions or cautions.

Since 2016, 20 people who have previously committed offences have become serving police officers in the county. 

And 2022 saw the joint-highest number of officers with criminal records recruited - five - in the time period for which police were able to provide data.

Previous offences committed by officers include assault, theft and possession of an offensive weapon, according to the figures obtained under freedom of information laws.

Meanwhile, data reveals five serving Cumbria Police staff in the last five years have committed crimes.

Cumbria Police said it followed national guidelines in recruiting its officers.

Since 2017, three police officers and two members of civilian staff have committed crimes, including assault, drug possession and driving without due care and attention.

It led to sackings on two occasions, along with one final written warning and one resignation.

Cumbria Police said the data related to previous offences included juvenile cautions.

A spokesman said: "Cumbria Constabulary complies fully with national APP Guidance regarding recruitment of police officers.

"This guidance states that it is not appropriate for there to be a list of convictions which merit instant rejection of an application.

"Instead, each case must be considered on its own individual merits in relation to the role being undertaken.

"There is recognition in national police recruitment policy that a caution received as a child should not result in the automatic rejection of an application.

"However, applications are rejected in all cases where offences were committed that resulted in a prison sentence or where the applicant is, or has been, a registered sex offender."

Last His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services published a report looking at eight forces, including Cumbria, reviewing hundreds of police vetting files.

The watchdog said it uncovered too many cases where people, including those with criminal records or links to organised crime, should not have been allowed to join the police and that it was 'too easy' for them to do so.

Cumbria Police said the force was 'strengthening and enhancing its vetting procedures for prospective police officers' in line with other forces nationally.

"In Cumbria, all prospective police officers undergo rigorous vetting into their background, including whether they have ever been convicted of a criminal offence," the spokesman said.

"However, where the applicant has not received a custodial sentence and/or is not on the sex offenders’ register, applications are judged on a case-by-case basis which takes into account numerous factors including the offence itself, the circumstances of that offence, the age at the time, etc.

"Officers already in employment are subject to high standards of professionalism and integrity. In circumstances where they fall short of this standard, even if the actions do not meet the criminal threshold, they can and often are brought before a misconduct hearing chaired independently.

"This can result in their loss of employment and being placed on the Barred List, preventing the officer from being employed by another police force."