Let’s be ’avin that: gifts to police from grateful public
WHISKY, two pounds of dates and three free-range eggs – these are the weird and wonderful gifts grateful members of the public have bestowed upon Cheshire police officers.
A register of gifts and gratitudes reveals police have received all manner of things for their public service in the last year.
Traditional gifts such as flowers, scented candles and mugs made frequent occurrences on the list.
However confectionery was by far the most common item, with police receiving hundreds of pounds worth of cakes, sweets and chocolate between August 2017 and May 2018.
That being said, other grateful residents opted for a more quirky choice of food gift.
Two pounds worth of dates, three free-range eggs and a home-made apple pie with pickles were gifts declared by officers over the last 12 months.
Wine, rum, whisky, Prosecco, and “Polish alcohol” were also amongst the drinks given to members of the constabulary.
Other more unusual gifts declared over the year include two baby feeding bowls worth £4, a selection of hats worth £10, a set of ladders, takeaway food and a canvas painting.
One of the most expensive gifts was a guest package of £320 for the Chief Constable to attend the Police Strategy Forum Conference as a guest speaker and chair sessions.
However, most of the gifts fell under a much smaller price range of £0-£20.
Cheshire police force’s gifts, gratuities and hospitality procedure sets out strict rules to ensure that gifts are declared by all staff.
Under this procedure, officers and staff ‘must not compromise or abuse their position by soliciting the offer of gifts, gratuities, favours or hospitality, nor should they accept any such offer outside of the ethical framework for determining acceptable boundaries in relation to gifts, gratuities and hospitality’.
Cheshire Constabulary said that some gifts, such as clothes vouchers and cash, were returned, declined or donated to charity. ●