A police officer who flew into a rage after staff at an off-licence refused to sell him a chocolate bar because he was in uniform has been reprimanded by Thames Valley Police, writes Emma Henry.

The force's complaints authority, which met yesterday (WEDS), was told the officer's case was one of six complaints substantiated by the authority during August and September.

Chief Supt Ralph Perry, of the force's Professional Standards Department, told the meeting the officer stopped en-route to a prison when a prisoner he was returning said he was hungry. He went into an off-licence and asked for a Mars bar, but staff refused to serve him because he was in uniform.

The officer then lost his temper, and the store subsequently complained. He was found guilty of incivility and given a written warning. Complaints against five other officers were also upheld. One officer appeared before a misconduct hearing and received a caution, two officers had written warnings and two other officers were given advice from their area commander.

The complaints were two assaults, one unlawful arrest or detention, one irregularity in evidence/perjury, one failure in duty, one other irregularity and two complaints of incivility.

But the committee was also told complaints are down by 12.5 per cent on this time last year.