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“It was apparent that many of the incidents identified in this study were a result of poor guidance, lack of adequate supervision, or a combination of life pressures that culminated in a desperate decision,” the report says.

The study — covering documented cases from Jan. 1, 1995 through Dec. 31, 2005 — was completed in 2007 but only recently released to The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act.

The RCMP says it has since adopted many of the report’s recommendations, adding there is no evidence that corruption is a significant issue within its ranks.

A total of 204 regular members were involved in the 322 incidents of corruption, with the study characterizing the “nature and gravity” of the episodes as “relatively moderate.”

Many cases of improperly sharing police information involved misuse of confidential details in police databanks, sometimes to family, friends or known criminals.

Fraud cases often included doctored expense claims or abuse of government credit cards.

Examples of interference were ticket fixing, perjury, falsifying evidence or protection of illegal activities.

Twelve incidents involved organized crime and another 20 included officer dealings with known criminals.

“The RCMP can and should be doing more in terms of a risk reduction strategy,” the report concluded.

“Left unaddressed, corruption can fester and affect the vast majority of honest employees, in that there is more potential for less public co-operation on an operational level.”