Police union boss accused of fiddling expenses

A former police union boss appeared in court accused of making hundreds of pounds worth of false expense claims for food and travel.

DC Dennis Weeks, 45, faces 12 charges of committing fraud by false representation.

Weeks, who is based in Redbridge, Essex resigned from his elected official role as deputy secretary of the Met Police Federation in January 2015.

The allegations he faces relate to travel and food expenses claimed during his role within the Police Federation between February and October 2014.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on a summons following a Directorate of Professional Standards investigation into allegations of financial irregularity, reported internally.

Mark Gadsden, prosecuting, said: ‘There is a multiplicity of charges, but the value is in the hundreds of pounds, rather than thousands.’

Weeks accepts making the claims but denies they were dishonest and he pleaded not guilty to all 12 counts on the indictment.

Weeks, of  Wanstead, east London was bailed to next appear at Southwark Crown Court on 26 October.

He has been placed on restricted duties whilst the investigation is ongoing.