GIFTS from lamb chops to tickets for a snooker match are amongst presents given to police in Gloucestershire by thankful members of the public.

The county’s police force publishes a list of all the weird and wonderful things given to officers in its register of gifts and hospitality.

Whilst presents such as doughnuts from an Australian colleague and several gifts of alcoholic drinks are more traditional some officers have been handed much more unusual offerings.

One police officer was given a 250g bottle of olive oil and a garlic bulb as a thanks for providing advice in March last year.

In 2013 in return for helping a member of the public who was ill-equipped for their scooter ride at night by providing them with spare clothes, the man returned what he was given through the post wrapping up two lamb chops and a letter of thanks inside.

Amongst the other edible gifts given to officers was a “large parsnip” given to a PCSO by the occupants of a house they had visited whilst a butchers in Gloucester gave the force eight sausages.

Other gifts given to police in Gloucestershire include:

  • A mug and two chocolate biscuits which were sent through the post. As it would have been more expensive to send them back the mug was placed in a cupboard and the two biscuits were given to finance staff.
  • Bourton-on-the-Water Parish Council held a vote and agreed to give an officer three free tickets to an ABBA tribute band concert. The tickets could not be accepted.

Gazette Series:

  • A burglary victim, who was a professional snooker player, offered a number of tickets to officers to watch him play in an upcoming event. They were not accepted.
  • Police in the Cotswolds were approached by a pizza delivery driver and informed that a pizza could not be delivered and would have to be disposed of. It was given to officers for “immediate consumption” to avoid waste.
  • A Christmas cracker was given to a special constable in October last year by a member of the public. The cracker came with a pen and a torch valued at £2.
  • Runner beans and cooking apples were given to a PCSO by a grateful member of the public. They were shared amongst the shift.