Cops Robbery Is Inside Job

Jan 6 2008 By Norman Silvester

Exclusive Force Staff Get Blame For Thefts

A STRING of theft sat Scotland's biggest police force are being blamed on their own staff.

A top-level financial probe discovered at least three crimes at Strathclyde Police offices last year were inside jobs.

They included the disappearance of £170,000 of suspected drugs profits from Hamilton Police station; a computer being stolen from Helen Street nick in Govan, Glasgow; and cash going missing from the lost and found section at Ayr.

But it is feared the number of in-house crimes may be even higher because the investigators admit they are unlikely to detect every one.

The report by accountants Pricewaterhouse-Coopers says: "Improper conduct is usually carefully concealed and the probability is not high that our regular audit work will bring it to light."

Strathclyde Police refuse to reveal the value of the three crimes except to say that they were all less than £5000.

The alleged theft from Hamilton falls into that category as most of the money has been recovered. Robert Moffat, 42, a civilian police worker from Chapelhall, Lanarkshire, has already appeared in court in connection with the alleged "drugs money" theft.

A male office worker, who has since resigned, was reported to the fiscal over the missing computer and the Ayr theft is still being investigated.

The Strathclyde audit was part of the National Fraud Initiative which examines the billions of pounds spent by police forces, councils, fire services and health boards.

Scotland's other seven police forces are undergoing the same investigations.

Strathclyde Police said: "Any allegation of fraud involving our employees is taken very seriously and thoroughly investigated no matter the sums involved."

A police insider said: "Strathclyde has 7500 police officers and 3000 civilian workers with a budget of £550million so the possibility of fraud or theft is very high.

"The fact that people know these audits are taking place should discourage future fraud."

SUNDAY EMAIL

n.silvester@sundaymail.co.uk