Police received gifts from Church of Scientology

11:54am Wednesday 22nd November 2006

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THE City of London Police is conducting an inquiry after it was revealed that officers had been "groomed" with gifts worth thousands of pounds from the Church of Scientology.

Officers accepted invitations to the premier of Mission Impossible 3 in Leicester Square in April and to a £500-a-head charity dinner where MI3 star and world famous Scientologist Tom Cruise was the guest of honour.

The force was also provided with free use of a £5,000 a night jazz band and the Scientologists donated £6,250 to the City of London Children's Charity, according to reports by The Guardian and Daily Mail.

More than 20 officers were reportedly targeted by the religious movement - which opened a new centre on Queen Victoria Street near St Paul's Cathedral last month - in the 15 months since the July 7 bombings.

Chief superintendent Kevin Hurley appeared as a guest speaker at the opening of the £23 million centre.

According to the reports, most of the engagements were approved by three senior officers, assistant commissioner Frank Armstrong, Mr Hurley or chief superintendent Ken Stewart.

There is no suggestion Mr Hurley has personally benefited from any hospitality.

A City of London Police spokesman said: "We are conducting a review to ensure that all members of staff are aware of the force policy on accepting hospitality and to assess whether clarification or amendment of this policy is necessary."

But the spokesman would not say if the officers involved would be spoken to about their relationship with the wealthy religious movement.

"We will not be commenting any further because this was a freedom of information matter," he said.