Police officers among ten arrested over alleged drug dealing
Ten people, including police officers working for the National Crime Squad, have been arrested on suspicion of drug-dealing, police said today.
Derbyshire Police said those arrested were detained this morning on suspicion of possessing and supplying controlled drugs.
A police spokesman said: ‘‘Those arrested include police officers from Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, some of whom are seconded to the National Crime Squad.’’
Further details are expected to be released later this afternoon, the spokesman added.
The arrests were made by NCS officers at eight addresses in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
Bob Packham, Deputy Director General of the National Crime Squad, said officers had worked in close co-operation with Bob Wood, Deputy Chief Constable of Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire Constabulary.
Those arrested were all being interviewed by NCS officers about offences of supplying and possessing drugs, including cocaine and cannabis.
Small quantities of what are believed to be cannabis and cocaine were found at three of the addresses.
Mr Packham said: ‘‘These arrests follow an intensive and covert operation which we in the National Crime Squad initiated after certain information came to our attention.
‘‘This was not the result of an allegation from the public or a formal complaint. It came to notice because of our alertness to any suggestion of misbehaviour by our officers.
‘‘We take this inquiry very seriously indeed and it is being vigorously pursued.
‘‘Since its inception three years ago the National Crime Squad has developed an extremely high reputation for integrity and professional behaviour, and we aim to make sure it stays that way.
‘‘We have worked closely with the National Crime Squad during this inquiry, and we will continue to do so during the continuing inquiries.
‘‘The police service is determined to thoroughly investigate allegations of wrong-doing by police officers or support staff.’’
The matter is to be referred to the Police Complaints Authority, an NCS spokesman said.
‘‘We will now be making a formal voluntary referral to the PCA jointly with the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire forces, to ensure an independent overview of the inquiry,’’ he added.
