http://www.londonnet.co.uk/ln/talk/news ... 61122.html

POLICE are under investigation for their financial links to the Church of Scientology.

There are allegations that around 20 police officers from the City of London force were the subject of various gifts from the controversial church, which preaches that aliens founded human life on earth.

The gifts are said to have included a dinner with Tom Cruise, one of Scientology’s most famous sons.

"We are conducting a review to ensure that all members of staff are aware of the force policy on accepting hospitality and to assess whether clarification or amendment is necessary," said a City of London police spokesperson.

Last month a spanking new UKP24 million Scientology centre was unveiled at Queen Victoria Street in the City. Present at the grand opening was Chief Superintendent Kevin Hurley, who described Scientology as a "force for good."

That is € 36 million! And $ 46 million!
And they pay staff $ 50 a week?

PLOD'S FAVOURITE CULT
SundayMirror.co.uk - News -


http://tinyurl.com/wnqh6

26 November 2006

PLOD'S FAVOURITE CULT
STOTTY ON SUNDAY

Richard Stott

AS any journalist who has written a critical piece about Scientology knows, the inevitable follow-up is a call from its mansion headquarters in East Grinstead to go and visit. Come and see the truth for yourself.

The caller is invariably polite, charming and as persuasive as someone who helps to run an iffy cult can be. Scientology specialises in converting high-profile stars - Tom Cruise, John Travolta - and collecting funds to run its global organisation and promote its "courses".

It is also sharp at cosying up to any individual or organisation it considers may be useful to the cause.

Scientology was founded by an old fraud called L Ron Hubbard, who is still revered by the movement which has produced a clutch of biographies about him, full of half-truths and evasion.

Its chequered history is well known, which makes it all the more extraordinary that City of London police fell for the glad-handing following the cult's opening of its £23million centre near St Paul's.

However innocent the Scientology freebies, the fact that Hubbard had been accused of being a fraud should have rung enough warning bells.

But invitations to Tom Cruise's premiere of Mission: Impossible 3 plus various other junkets were readily accepted by ranks up to Chief Superintendent.
Did nobody suggest there was no such thing as a free lunch, with or without Tom Cruise?

Did Assistant Commissioner Frank Armstrong who approved much of this hospitality not see that this was the City Police's own Mission: Impossible?

If this is the naivety of the plods who are meant to police the richest square mile in Europe - with all the potential rogues prowling around the edges - then expect a few more settling in soon.

Memo to East Grinstead: Don't bother calling, it won't work.