Police officers arrested in drugs probe

Jul 3 2007 By Neil Elkes, Birmingham Mail

FIVE Birmingham police officers were arrested and suspended from duty on suspicion of a Class A drugs offence it emerged today.

The officers, all constables based at Bournville Lane Police Station, were arrested after a night out at a city centre club last month.

The five men were off duty at the time of the incident on Saturday, June 2.

A month on, four of the five remain suspended from duty while the investigation continues.

They were at the unnamed club on Saturday, June 2, when bouncers raised the alarm over the alleged drugs offence.

A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said: "Security staff from the club alerted passing on duty police officers who were patrolling the area at the time and they spoke to two of the men, the other three had already left.

"The men were searched for drugs but nothing was found."

She said that the arrests were made following further inquiries into the incident.

Class A covers the most serious drugs, including heroin, cocaine and ecstasy, which carry the most severe sentences for possession and dealing.

The officers, who are all male and of constable rank, were arrested on Monday, June 4.

They have been bailed pending further enquiries. They were suspended from duty while the investigation is carried out. One of them has since been reinstated and is back on the beat.

The matter has been voluntarily referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission to ensure the investigation is carried out properly.