Durham police officers admit part in gun running plot

Jan 12 2010 by Garry Willey, The Journal

TWO police officers have admitted being part of a gun-running plot.

Durham PCs Maurice Allen and Damian Cobain were serving officers when they became involved in a plan to sell on weapons handed into their force.

Members of the public had given up the guns during amnesties, thinking they would be making the streets safer.

But Allen and Cobain abused their position of trust to sell the weapons on and have now admitted misconduct in public office. Allen, a firearms licensing officer in Derwentside, County Durham, was also charged with 16 counts of theft in relation to firearms, although no pleas were entered on the theft charges.

A probe was launched last February after a burglary at a Durham farmhouse during which a rifle was stolen.

The owner of the weapon is said to have told officers he had bought it from the police and an investigation showed it had been handed in to officers for destruction but later disappeared from the force’s registration system. The case against the two officers was adjourned until next month while prosecutors decide whether or not to proceed with the theft charges against Allen.