ELITE POLICE HELD IN DRUGS INQUIRY

Police have promised a thorough investigation Five police officers are
among 10 people arrested on suspicion of drug dealing in a series of
raids on Saturday.

The officers from Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire include four who have
worked with the elite National Crime Squad (NCS), two of whom were
currently seconded to the squad.

All 10 were detained following raids on eight addresses in Derbyshire
and Nottinghamshire. Small quantities of substances believed to be
cannabis and cocaine were found at three addresses.

The NCS targets the country's most serious criminals, including drug
traffickers, arms dealers and paedophiles.

It joined local police forces to carry out the raids and NCS
detectives are questioning those arrested.

Bob Packham, NCS deputy director general, 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."

Allegations

Mr Packham added: "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.

"The police service is determined to thoroughly investigate
allegations of wrong-doing by police officers or support staff."

An NCS spokesman said the five men and five women arrested were all in
their 30s or 40s.

Four were officers serving in the Derbyshire force and one with
Nottinghamshire Police.

Two of these five were currently on secondment to the National Crime
Squad's Nottingham branch.

An NCS spokesman said: "The other three are from Derbyshire, although
two of those have previously served with the National Crime Squad.

"All the officers are of constable or sergeant rank."

Independent inquiry

Bob Wood, deputy chief constable of Derbyshire Constabulary, told the
BBC the arrests had been "a blow".

But he said: "It demonstrates our commitment to ensure that any
allegations of a criminal nature will be thoroughly
investigated.

"These are extremely serious allegations, but I stress at this stage
they are allegations.

"The officers have the right to give explanations and then we will
have to assess what charges are appropriate."

Mr Wood added that three other Derbyshire officers on secondment to
the NCS, had been returned to the county force over "concerns about
their management and conduct relating to the inquiry".

He said he would have to decide whether to suspend them from
operational duties for the duration of the inquiry.

The matter is to be referred to the Police Complaints Authority for an
independent inquiry.