http://www.people.co.uk/news/news/tm_headline=742-police-nicked%26method=full%26objectid=20757749%26siteid=93463-name_page.html

More than 700 police officers across Britain have been arrested over a shocking range of crimes in the last two years, The People can reveal.

Since 2006, a total of 742 cops have been investigated for serious crimes including murder, child abuse, drug possession, sex offences, voyeurism and wife-beating.

In a disturbing survey of 43 forces carried out by The People under the Freedom of Information Act, we discovered...

The London Metropolitan force tops the list for the largest number of officers arrested - 304 - with 17 quizzed over sex offences as well as 123 for violence.

Met Inspector Garry Weddell, 47, was arrested in 2007 for murdering wife Sandra, 44. He was bailed and shot himself a year later after shooting dead his mother-in-law.

A City of London force cop was arrested for murder but the charge was dropped.

Second worst force was West Midlands. Since 2006, 127 officers have been arrested including six sergeants and two inspectors.

A total of 61 officers were convicted - worst offences being indecent exposure, paedophilia and rape. Assault was the most common offence (25 arrests) followed by domestic violence (17) and drink driving (15).

In Hertfordshire, 20 were arrested for drink driving with seven convicted. Thames Valley Police have nicked 26 colleagues. The most senior was an inspector who resigned before a court hearing for drink driving.

Devon and Cornwall had 13 officers arrested, two for rape.

In Northumbria, 27 officers were arrested for assault, drink driving, drug dealing and BADGER BAITING - pitting a badger against fighting dogs.

Some convicted officers are still serving. In Yorkshire more than 40 officers have criminal records or have been cautioned. Ten officers in West Yorkshire have convictions for assault.

In Cleveland one kept his job after a conviction for urinating in public.

David Lindley, the Association of Chief Police Officers' conduct head, said: "The overwhelming majority of our 140,000 officers serve with dedication under difficult circumstances."