London cop charged with giving away firearm while guarding Israeli Embassy

No reason reported for why officer absented himself from protective duties or who he surrendered his weapon to

By ToI Staff 4 January 2013, 5:09 am

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File: Police officers guard the entrance to the Israeli Embassy in London (image capture Google Street View)

A British police officer was charged with willful misconduct in a public office on Thursday after he allegedly handed over his weapon and police-issued tear gas canister to an unknown person, while he was supposed to be guarding the Israeli Embassy in London, the Daily Mail reported.

Ricci Giff, 38, appeared in court, but failed to enter a plea in regard to the incident that took place in late 2011.

The original summons said he “absented himself from protective duties” outside the Israeli Embassy in Palace Green, Kensington, west London. But the charge was amended in court to remove reference to the embassy.

Giff was granted unconditional bail by the judge.