Four police officers suspended after colleagues complain they 'stole cash from street beggars'

The Daily Mail
Dec. 12, 2011

A police force has launched an investigation into its own officers after claims that they took cash from street beggars.

Four West Midlands Police officers were suspended and sent home on December 1 after suspicious colleagues raised concerns about their conduct.

The force's Professional Standards Unit was then called in to investigate claims that money was stolen from beggars, believed to be Eastern European, in the Bordesley Green area of Birmingham.

The allegations involve the mishandling of property taken from members of the public 'that could amount to theft'.

[...] A West Midlands Police spokeswoman would not comment on the beggar claims. She said: 'The allegations involve mishandling of property taken from members of the public that could amount to theft.

'The enquiry came to light when some members of the team highlighted concerning practices.' Street begging and rogue traders are known to operate in the area.

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