Weird and wonderful gifts given to the police

Beer two goats and 1lb of sausages are among hundreds of weird and wonderful gifts sent to police officers over the past four years. Police across Cambridgeshire have been inundated with gifts from kind-hearted members of the public looking to find that special way of saying "thank you".

From Valentine's Day cards and a kettle to alcohol, cream cakes and cigarettes, the list, which has been revealed in a Freedom of Information request to Cambridgeshire Constabulary, shows officers have received more than 400 tokens of appreciation since 2004.

Last year, as well as six bottles of spirits, a bottle of champagne, 30 bottles of wine and 29 boxes of chocolates, officers in all ranks of the force also received tickets for a circus, 12 tomatoes, a bag of potatoes, three bags of dog food and 50 racing car tyres. One officer was presented with a bumble bee nest while others received mouse mats, a plant pot, glass vase and tickets to the East of England Showground.



Gifts received in 2004 ranged from an invite to a 21st birthday party and a home-made curry to a kettle, fridge and two packets of biscuits. There was also a lavish trip to Roseville in California to carry out research on new equipment.

In 2005 while most of the presents were food items – including a bunch of fresh asparagus, doughnuts and tea bags – officers were also offered an ash tree, two Billy goats and a copy of the Qur'an.

The next year, the list of unusual items continued, with nine duck and hen eggs, Hunstanton rock, dishwasher tablets and an Oxford dictionary. And in 2007 police received a scrumptious plate of steak and kidney pie and chips, tickets for an England vs Scotland rugby match at Twickenham, a pair of disused headlights and toiletries.