Police bearing gifts

POLICE in Foyle and G District received twenty tins of sweets and biscuits, six bottles of wine and £587 in cash and gift vouchers from members of the public over the past three years.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Feb 2010, 09:29 BST
Updated 18th Feb 2010, 09:30 BST

The gifts were either returned or donated to charity on the vast majority of occasions but one police officer based in Londonderry understandably hung onto a swanky box of chocolates and biscuits from Harrod's.

The officer was a member of the Response Police in Foyle and was given the gift by a member of the public here in appreciation for their help following a road traffic accident (RTC) in December 2008.

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Equally, a cop from Limavady held onto a tin of sweets and biscuits donated by an unnamed donor in October 2007 due to their being of "little monetary value" and on the "basis of forging community contacts."

The largest donation was 200 in cash offered by a member of the public to a CID member in Foyle for their help in a civil case. The money was handed over to the PSNI Benevolent fund.

A 50 gift voucher given to the Foyle Area commander by the City Centre Business Initiative (CCBI), a 50 M&S gift voucher given to neighbourhood police in Foyle by local residents and a 50 NEXT gift voucher given to a member of the CARE Unit by a member of the public were also either returned or donated to charity.

A number of further cash donations, as well as the Roses, Quality Street, Danish Butter Cookies and booze - most of the gifts were received around Christmas time though not last year - were also returned or given to charity.

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On a more sinister note the PSNI said it could not name the community groups or individuals who donated the gifts due to the substantial harm that could be caused to those individuals and their premises/homes.

In response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by the Sentinel the PSNI said it had withheld these details as it was concerned "to release the names of groups who have given gifts to members of the PSNI could educate those members of the community who are intent on terrorist crime."

"It is felt that on balance the health and safety derived from non-disclosure is of much greater importance. It is the duty of the PSNI to

protect the public from all criminal/terrorist attacks, consequently, at this time, the public interest test favours non-disclosure."

Related topics:FoylePoliceRTC