Police staff who are also pole dancers and priests

A nataional newspaper has claimed that more than 23,000 police officers and staff have second jobs, ranging from a pole-dancing teacher and a priest. 

The figures, revealed in a study by the Mail on Sunday of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary data, found that at least 23,043 police staff had second jobs out of a workforce of 201,575 in May 2012.

That was up 19 per cent from March 2011 figures, which showed 19,329 had second jobs.

Police staff are allowed to take second jobs if approved by their superiors and unless there is a direct conflict of interest, such requests are usually approved.

A Home Office spokesman said: “It is the responsibility of chief constables to ensure that any secondary jobs held by officers do not harm the public’s perception of the police or result in any conflict of interest.

“The Home Secretary will put new proposals ensuring the highest standards of integrity in the police to Parliament in the new year.”