CRIMINAL gangs are attempting to infiltrate police forces by exploiting a recent recruitment drive, a senior anti-corruption officer has warned.
Detective Chief Inspector Alan Gall, head of Strathclyde Police's counter corruption unit, said there had been an increase in attempts by organised crime networks to penetrate the force.
Staff guidelines with advice on how to avoid making themselv
es vulnerable to the threat have been distributed across its departments.
The document urges caution when using social networking sites such as Bebo and Facebook among other recommendations.
It is part of a crackdown by the counter corruption unit, which has seen a rise in its inquiries from 68 in 2001-2 to 340 in 2008-9.
DCI Gall said of criminal organisations: "Their desire to protect their finances is so great now, they see opportunities within the huge recruitment drive within the service.
"They will recognise that there's an opportunity there to put individuals into the service."
At the end of March there were a record 17,048 police officers employed in Scotland – an increase of 821 in 12 months.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said the SNP government was on track to fulfil its commitment to boosting officer numbers by 1,000 by 2011.
DCI Gall said the large number of new young recruits with less life experience were particularly vulnerable to corruption – something criminal gangs were seeking to exploit.
On the use of social networking sites he said: "Now they need to be mindful.
"They can be damaging to the reputation of the service and to their own personal circumstances."
Last year 15 Strathclyde Police officers and staff members were reported on corruption charges.
