Police debtors up by 30pc

The number of police officers with unmanageable debts soared by more than 30 per cent in the first six months of this year.

'The economic downturn in the past year had an obvious impact on force members in the same manner it has on the community,' the Security Bureau said in a paper to legislators.

The survey showed the number of officers in unmanageable debt had increased from 82 between July and December last year to 107 in the first half of this year.

Overspending and gambling accounted for the problems of about 52 per cent of officers reporting difficulties while about 18 per cent became indebted due to family reasons.

Another 16 per cent of cases were related to officers' investment and business failures.