Police silent on 'bizarre' initiation

North Yorkshire police yesterday refused to confirm or deny allegations of bullying and bizarre initiation ceremonies. Two officers are to appear before disciplinary hearings next week to face allegations which emerged as a result of a 10-month inquiry into events at Harrogate station.

The Yorkshire Post said incidents of "outrageous behaviour" included an officer being forced to sit in a kennel behind the station for three hours after coming to work in the "wrong type" of tie; a policeman walking naked around his office with a lost-property tag tied to his penis and recruits being forced to run down corridors with bulldog clips attached to their nipples.

A police spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that two officers will be facing disciplinary hearings next week. The two officers no longer serve in Harrogate ... Any allegations of misconduct will be thoroughly investigated by this force."

r Police officer Nicholas Derry, who set up a cannabis plantation in his loft, was jailed for 12 months yesterday. Hesmoked cannabis every day to relieve job stress, Gloucester Crown Court heard.

When colleagues raided his home in Chelmsford, Essex they found plants growing under artificial light in his loft. Derry, 25, who resigned from the force, was jailed for cultivating cannabis and for affray and obstructing police.

Toby Halliwell, for the prosecution, said Derry was arrested in Gloucester after an affray in August last year and it was only when police visited his home that his involvement in the drug scene came to light.

He got 12 months for affray and concurrent sentences of nine months and one month for the drugs and obstruction offences.