Give us a break, say ‘Clouseau police’ - Politics - News - Evening Standard
The police branded “worse than Inspector Clouseau” today pleaded with ministers to be given more scope to investigate theft and loss from the Ministry of Defence.
Military police were criticised last week when the Standard revealed that just one in 200 theft investigations had led to a conviction.
Computer games consoles, morphine and a snare drum were among hundreds of items to go missing, as well as night-vision goggles, weapon sights and a smoke grenade.
But the Defence Police Federation, which represents the civilian Ministry of Defence police who investigated 120 of the 200 cases, said the trail of thefts had often gone cold by the time they were called in to investigate.
National chairman Eamon Keating said his officers should be brought in sooner to investigate losses.
He also warned that 1,800 defence police and guard job cuts will leave bases more vulnerable to attack, and called for a re-think.
