Police Officers Sell Uniform On eBay

Police Officers who sell Uniform and Official Kit on eBay to face Investigation

SOURCE: The Telegraph

By David Barrett, Home Affairs Correspondent

Police chiefs have recently launched an investigation following the reports of Police Officers selling uniform and official on eBay for personal gain.

A constable was recently caught auctioning his police motorcycle boots.

A senior West Midlands Police officer said he was "alarmed" by the amount of police equipment which is turning up on online auction sites.

Even though some of the goods that are up for sale are historic (such as an obsolete police helmet and a pair of 1960s handcuffs currently advertised for £65) officers have been disciplined for making profit out of the items issued to them at the taxpayer's expense.

Chief Superintendent Andrew Nicholson, head of professional standards at the West Midlands force, said: "A number of years ago an officer was kitted out and attended a police motorcycle course"



The online auction site 'eBay' where police uniform/kit are known to be sold



Mr. Nicholson also added:

"I'm alarmed by the amount of property I've seen for sale on there and will be mounting an investigation."

Mr Nicholson pledged to launch an investigation and warned officers not to sell their uniform online.

What Do I think about this article?

My opinion of this article is that it is not necessary to launch an investigation as to why members of the police service sold/are selling police uniform and equipment onto online auction sites such as eBay. Personally, I think that they should suspend officers who have sold equipment/uniform online for a period of time as they've violated the value of the uniform/equipment of it's worth.