Detective snorted cocaine with drug dealers

Former detective Andrew Watts, 27, who worked for Humberside Police, once had the highest arrest rate for an officer in Hull.

But Watts, who even accessed a CID database to read intelligence reports on five of his drug-dealing friends, was caught after he was seen taking cocaine by undercover officers.

The policeman was seen snorting the drug with three dealers at the

Robin pub in Hull on several occasions in 2008.

Watts also failed to investigate his friends – former rugby players and prison officers Lance Busby and Carl Towle – who were running a 300,000 cocaine ring in the city.

Judge Graham Robinson described him as a "stunningly successful" officer as he jailed him for 15 months.

The judge said: "You crossed the line. Your knowledge that Busby and Towle were involved with drugs was of enormous significance and it was your public duty to pass on the intelligence, which you didn't do.

"It was a clear example of misconduct."

He continued: "You have a previous exemplary service record. No one suggested being a police officer was easy.

"You now have to live with the knowledge that despite all of your exemplary work, you have ultimately let yourself down, your colleagues and the community you served."

Watts, who joined Humberside Police in 2002, handed in his notice seven days after his arrest in 2008.

He was investigated by the force's anti-corruption unit, which discovered he was in regular telephone contact with four drugs dealers.

Watts, of east Hull, pleaded guilty at Hull Crown Court to misconduct by wilfully neglecting his public office between 2006 and 2008, by failing to inform on or investigate his friends.

The former officer, who was commended during a six-year career, also admitted three counts of being in possession of cocaine, a Class A drug, between January 1 and August 31, 2008.

His barrister Nicholas Johnson said: "This case marks a tragic fall from grace for this man.

"It is remarkable that this happened to an officer who once had the highest arrest rate in Hull.

"In his short career he was of significant service to this city. He is genuinely ashamed he has brought disgrace upon himself and the local police force."

Watts's employment with the force included time working with the priority crime team based at Priory Road Police Station, in west Hull.

The team investigates burglaries, thefts and vehicle crimes committed across the city.

Aggression and disorganisation

Police call handlers were aggressive and refused to put callers through to the stations they asked for, a survey has found.

Switchboard operators at Humberside Police could not provide even basic information on a third of the force's 27 neighbourhood policing teams, while six stations failed to respond to messages left for them.

Two stations visited as part of the customer satisfaction survey were closed, while Pocklington police station in the East Riding was found to be "hazardous for pedestrians".

The force gave only a postcode when advertising one public meeting and the building closed two hours before it was due to start.