POLICE in Hampshire are among hundreds nationally convicted for criminal offences in the last three years, new figures have shown.

Forces across the UK revealed 309 police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOS) were convicted of offences from 2012 to June this year.

Hampshire Police revealed a male police officer was convicted for urinating in a public place in 2012. A male police officer was also convicted of animal neglect in 2013.

The force did not name the officer because it would breach the Data Protection Act or publish the total number of officers with convictions in its response.

The figures were compiled under a freedom of information request Police in other forces were convicted or a range of offences including sex crimes, assault and possessing indecent images of children.

But it is thought that the actual number is higher as only 25 out of 45 forces provided figures.

Currently at least 295 police officers and PCSOs with convictions are serving with the police, according to separate figures from 18 forces.

Most forces refused to reveal how many of their officers had previous convictions because of the cost of retrieving the information.

Police also refused to disclose the names of the officers involved in crimes, arguing that identifying them would breach data protection laws.

The UK's biggest force, the Metropolitan Police, said 178 police officers had been convicted of offences from 2012 to March 31, 2015.

Fifty four of the officers were still serving with the force, including 10 who were awaiting the conclusion of misconduct review hearings.

Convictions involving 46 Met police officers last year included two sexual offences, four violence against the person offences, three thefts and 19 traffic offences.

Chief Constable Jacqui Cheer, the National Police Chiefs' Council's lead on professional standards and ethics, said: ''One year on the code of ethics is now well embedded across the service and clearly sets out the standards of professional behaviour expected of officers and staff.

''When members of the service fall short of these standards well established and rigorous processes are in place to ensure appropriate action is taken.

''The decision by a force to retain someone with a conviction will have been carefully considered and only taken following a clear, national and regulated process.''

A Home Office spokesman said: ''The vast majority of police officers in this country do their job honestly and with integrity. They put themselves in harm's way to protect the public. But the good work of the majority threatens to be damaged by a continuing series of events and revelations relating to police conduct.

''Over the last two years the Home Office has introduced a programme of measures to improve standards of behaviour in the police, including making the disciplinary system more independent and transparent through introducing hearings in public, preventing officers resigning or retiring to avoid dismissal, and - from next year - introducing legally qualified, independent chairs on misconduct hearing panels.

''The Government will finish the job of police reform and introduce legislation later this year. It will overhaul the police complaints and disciplinary systems, strengthen protections for police whistleblowers and change the role, powers and governance of the IPCC and the remit of HMIC.''

Lucy Hastings, director of Victim Support, said: “We know that the vast majority of police are honest, trustworthy and committed to getting justice for victims.

''Victims of crime will clearly find these figures alarming. It is critical that victims know they can trust the police so that they have confidence to report crimes. But, understandably, it can be incredibly difficult to speak out about a crime committed by a police officer - someone we expect and trust to abide by the law.”