Long arm of the law was offered cheap massages...

AGREGGS gift card, signed football shirts and even discount massages were among the bizarre gifts given to West Midlands police officers over the past three years.

The list also includes hundreds of pounds worth of chocolates and alcohol given to officers since 2015.

The information came to light after West Midlands police updated its list of gifts, gratuities and hospitalities, following a freedom of information request.

Under law, every force has to keep a record of any gift or hospitality offered by members of the public or organisations. Bizarre gifts include:

25 per cent off massages for all officers and staff was offered to the Chief Superintendent by Livewell Health.

Aston Villa football club gave the Assistant Chief Constable a signed first team shirt, the value of which was judged to be £50. A constable was also offered a signed shirt, from Wolverhampton FC. This, however, was only judged to have been worth £35.

Hill Shorter Ltd offered a Sergeant a Dr Who brochure. It was deemed to be worth nothing, however.

Two £10 Greggs gift cards were offered to officers and staff by the family of a victim of crime, as well as beer, chocolates and biscuits. The beer was donated to charity.

A ceramic bird feeder, worth £5, was also offered to officers and staff by a member of the public.

Officers were also given £100 cash by a member of the public, though no record of it being passed on to charity, as is policy, is made.

Police officers and staff were also given four mini telescopes, worth £40, by a member of the public.

M&J Construction gave an Ipad mini, worth £300, to a chief inspector.

The Chief Superintendent was the recipient of a unique combination of a box of mangos and an English Quran, worth £15, by Stechford Mosque.

One constable was given a baby outfit worth £30, which they donated to charity.

In one of the strangest cases, 100 pots of noodles were given to police staff by company Kabuto towards the end of 2016.

Two constables were each given two pears by a member of the public, each values at 50p.

Cleone Foods, which produces Jamaican patties in Hockley, gave a constable five packets of 12 pasties which were due to go out of date. These were not valued.

A collection of homemade cakes, three lots of chocolates and a police teddy bear were left by an unknown person at a front office. They were shared between officers, while the bear was donated to the police museum.

A West Midlands Police force policy document states “a record must be made of any offer, provision or refusal, in the gifts, gratuities and hospitality register,” while also noting that “the general principle governing the offer of any gift, gratuity or hospitality is that it will be declined.”

“It is accepted,” it continues, “that there will be some occasions where the acceptance or provision of a gift, gratuity or hospitality will be appropriate.

“In these circumstances the acceptance or provision must ensure the integrity of West Midlands Police and any member of the organisation must not be compromised.”