Bribery, The Government And Police Officers

Picture the scene.

Police officer accepts a bribe for destroying evidence - Public out-cry, officer suspended, officer and person offering bribe taken to court, both found guilty, both get banged up.

The Labour party accepts a bribe for a gong, lordship or whatever - Public out-cry, minister suspended, minister and person offering bribe taken to court, both found guilty, both get banged up.

Apart from the obvious discipline code breach, both in my humble opinion at the very least fall under the juristiction of the Misconduct in a Public Office or perhaps even the Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act 1889.

Quoting the Solicitor-General back in 2003 - Under the Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act 1889 both the offer or the acceptance of a bribe amounts to an offence. Corruption strikes at the heart of public confidence in administrative and judicial affairs. In all such cases where there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of a conviction, a prosecution will normally take place unless the public interest factors against proceeding with a case clearly outweigh those in favour.

Now you decide which scenerio is reality and which scenerio is imaginary!