Ex-police officer jailed for fraud after stealing £12,699 from West Mercia Federation

Jamie Harrison, a former West Mercia Police officer, was sentenced to over two years in prison for 15 counts of fraud. He used colleagues' funds for holidays and hotels.

Former West Mercia officer convicted of 15 fraud counts over eight-year scheme

A former police officer and federation secretary has been sentenced to two years and three months in prison after stealing more than £12,699 from colleagues' funds over an eight-year period, bbc.com reports.

Jamie Harrison, 55, of Worcester Road in Droitwich, Worcestershire, was found guilty of 15 counts of fraud by abuse of position during his time with West Mercia Police Federation. He resigned from the force in 2022.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) identified more than 100 fraudulent claims Harrison made while serving as secretary and treasurer between 2010 and 2018. Members' funds were used to cover personal holidays, meals and entertainment.

Harrison kept individual claims under £100 to avoid internal scrutiny, maintaining sole control over the federation's petty cash for that purpose. He also received salary payments on days he was not working — text messages shown in court confirmed he had taken time off to watch rugby abroad.

National Police Memorial Days were used as opportunities to bring family members to four and five-star hotels in York, Cardiff, Edinburgh and London, the court heard.

At Worcester Crown Court on Wednesday, Judge Martin Jackson said Harrison had shown a "pattern of repeated abuse of the petty cash system." The judge noted that the conduct would inevitably damage public trust in the police and erode officers' confidence in their colleagues.

The court was told Harrison had previously been of good character and had received a commendation for bravery during his service. He has since repaid the full amount with inflation applied, bringing the total to more than £16,500.

Det Supt Tony Garner, of West Mercia Police, said Harrison "chose to act for himself" and exploited the positions he held. "This was a betrayal of the trust placed in him by both the public and his colleagues," Garner added.

Victoria Norman of the CPS said Harrison had occupied a role of considerable trust, in which honesty and integrity were expected. "Instead, he exploited his control over West Mercia Police Federation's finances for personal gain and behaved in a thoroughly dishonest way during the entire eight years of his tenure," she said.

Norman described Harrison as displaying an "extremely cavalier attitude" to the prospect of being caught, adding that his "entitled and dishonest behaviour" ran counter to the standards required of a public servant.

Source: Google News UK — Crime (en)