A Sydney police officer was fired after he loaned his uniform and handcuffs to a friend, believing they would be used in a fetish fantasy.

Key points: Police made the unexpected discovery during a 2015 raid on a home

Police made the unexpected discovery during a 2015 raid on a home It was subsequently revealed an officer had lent the handcuffs and uniform to a friend

It was subsequently revealed an officer had lent the handcuffs and uniform to a friend The decision to sack the officer was upheld at the Industrial Relations Commission

The Industrial Relations Commission was told the handcuffs and uniform were discovered in a police raid on the home of the friend, who was suspected of using a government laboratory to manufacture illicit drugs.

The officer "M" — who was a police prosecutor — later admitted providing advice to the suspect about the evidence authorities had gathered.

The officer's superiors believed his actions put him in "outright conflict" with his police duties.

He was sacked by Police Commissioner Mick Fuller in 2017 — a decision that was upheld by the Commission in September.

The saga began in 2013, when drug squad officers raided an Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) facility in Sydney.

They were acting on suspicions an ANSTO employee, known as "A" and who was friends with the police prosecutor, had been using the lab to produce methamphetamine, or "ice".

The ANSTO facility in Sydney was the subject of a police probe. ( ABC News: Nick Dole )

Police took swabs inside the lab.

According to an officer involved the swabs returned positive results for "some meth" and cocaine, the NSW Civil Administrative Tribunal was told in 2016.

Police spoke with "A" and his lawyer and told them traces of ice had been found on his lab equipment.

However, a formal analysis later showed no drugs were present.

The device police used for the initial test can produce false positive results.

No charges were laid against "A" and the ABC does not allege wrongdoing by him or any other ANSTO employee.

"A" was not involved in the operation of the nuclear reactor and no longer works at ANSTO.

Search uncovered handcuffs and uniform

In 2015, police searched the home of "A" and made an unexpected discovery.

They found a pair of police-issued handcuffs, which are considered a prohibited weapon.

They also found a police-issued belt, leather jacket, hat, shirt, pants and leather gloves.

They belonged to "A's" friend, police prosecutor "M".

"M" initially informed superiors his friend wanted to join the police and wished to try on the uniform, the Industrial Relations Commission was told.

However, during cross-examination, "M" offered another explanation.

Question: "The real reason you stored your uniform and appointments at A's house was he had a uniform fetish?" Answer: "The main reason yes." Question: "... You knew that he would live out that fetish and wear the uniform didn't you?" Answer: "Possibly, yes."

'That is an outright conflict'

The ANSTO employee "A" claimed to be the victim of a vexatious report to police and sought information, via freedom of information laws, about the evidence they had gathered against him.

Some of the information he gathered was later reviewed by his police prosecutor friend "M".

Doing that was at odds with "M's" duties as a police prosecutor, a supervisor said.

In evidence to the Commission, "M's" supervisor, recalled what he had told her.

"[He said] we have been friends for eight years," the supervisor said.

"I had looked over some documents with him regarding an allegation about three years ago and advised him if there was sufficient evidence to charge."

The supervisor said she replied: "M, that is an outright conflict."

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller sacked the officer who lent his uniform. ( AAP: Dan Himbrechts )

"M" maintained that had he understood the extent of the investigation, he would have reported his conflict of interest to his superiors immediately.

At various times during the investigation, "M" denied giving advice to his friend about police evidence.

However, under cross examination, "M" conceded he had done so.

In his judgement refusing "M's" bid for reinstatement, Chief Commissioner Peter Kite SC said the police prosecutor did not fully understand his obligation to "integrity above all".

"The applicant did not put his obligations as a police officer ahead of his desire to assist a friend, he did the reverse," he said.