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MORE than 145 cops have been reported to prosecutors for alleged corruption in the past five years... but only six were convicted.

Figures for Scotland’s forces – except the biggest, Strathclyde – reveal serious allegations of criminality against officers.

They were probed over gangland links, blackmail, bribery, serious assault, snooping on secret files, perverting the course of justice and lying in statements.

The 145 reported to the procurator fiscal served with Lothian and Borders, Grampian, Tayside, Fife, Dumfries and Galloway, Central and Northern.

The six convicted include Lothian and Borders officer Derek McLeod, who was accused of passing information to the Lyons crime clan about murder target Kevin “Gerbil” Carroll.

We revealed how McLeod was jailed over his gangland links in the wake of Carroll’s fatal shooting in an Asda car park.

Strathclyde refused to release figures because they said it would cost too much.

However, last year Strathclyde’s Deputy Chief Constable Neil Richardson revealed 27 organised crime gangs were actively trying to infiltrate the force by grooming and planting recruits in the ranks.

He also said that the force probed 369 criminal complaints against serving officers in 2010.

Of those, 218 were accused of passing data about investigations, suspects and informants. Three of those were sacked.

In the new figures obtained by the Sunday Mail, Northern Constabulary – with a force of 715 officers – topped the table with 45 accused of 102 corruption charges.

A Northern Constabulary spokesman said: “Any officer who compromises public confidence in the force will always be dealt with appropriately and commensurately.

“The officer who was convicted of the serious offence of attempting to pervert the course of justice in 2010 is no longer a serving officer as a result of that robust process.”

Tayside Police were next with 43 reported to prosecutors since 2007.In the last year, 33 of their officers were accused of corrupt practice.

Central Police had 36 suspected corrupt officers in the last five years. However, none of them faced court.

Six officers were dealt with internally by the force, with just two facing misconduct hearings and the others receiving “advice”.

Grampian had 11 cases, Lothian and Borders eight – with two officers convicted and jailed.

Tory justice spokesman David McLetchie MSP said: “Police face a high proportion of false complaints, and I welcome the fact that such a small number prove to be genuine.

“However, it does not sit well with people when individuals handed the responsibility of enforcing the law are themselves law-breakers.”

Lothian and Borders Deputy Chief Constable Steve Allen – head of professional standards at the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland – said: “Police forces in Scotland expect officers to conduct themselves to very high professional standards.

“Where allegations of corruption are reported, they are robustly investigated and reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

“Decisions thereafter are a matter for the Crown taking into account the available evidence in support of the allegations made.”

Our biggest force stay schtum

SCOTLAND'S biggest force refused to reveal how many of their officers were reported over corruption claims.

Strathclyde – led by Chief Constable Stephen House – said compiling the data would cost too much.

They said: “To extract and examine this information would take in excess of the £600 and 40 hours prescribed by ministers under the Freedom of Information Act.”

Strathclyde constable Jeff Jones, 43, was convicted of hacking into secret police files.

We revealed five months ago how he checked a database for details of supergrass Gary Edmonds who put his girlfriend Sarah Speirs’s brother behind bars for a gangland murder.

Jones, of Old Kilpatrick, Dunbartonshire, was fined £2400. He was suspended on full pay and will almost certainly lose his job.