A FORMER Southend police inspector has been suspended following allegations he sold police uniform items on Ebay.

John Meggison, 50, from Rayleigh is now a civilian projects manager for the force, working at police headquarters in Chelmsford.

He was suspended, following claims made in a Sunday newspaper he had sold a police uniform and equipment on the internet auction site - some of which still had the Essex Police badge and his identification tag attached.

The newspaper claimed the deal was struck, after a reporter posed as an employee of a theatrical props company. The goods were allegedly handed over in a layby on the A12.

Mr Meggison is alleged to have sold a badge, fluorescent jacket and bobby's hat for £175, prompting concerns the uniform could have fallen into the wrong hands and been used by bogus callers or even terrorists.

Equipment and uniform remains police property and should not be sold by officers when they retire.

Essex Police spokesman Roger Grimwade confirmed a member of staff was being investigated, adding: "The member of staff has been suspended while this investigation is ongoing."

Mr Meggison told the Echo he had been advised by his solicitor not to make any comment while the investigation was in progress.

However, a friend of the former inspector, who asked not to be named, said: "I find this very hard to believe.

"John is one of the straightest people I know and I don't believe he would ever do anything he believed to be dishonest.

"He may have been stupid, but I don't think there was any intention to deceive anyone."

Mr Meggison spent much of his police career at Southend and Leigh police stations, working his way up to the rank of inspector.

He is the son of the late Brian Meggison, who was a well-known journalist in the Southend area and a Tory Castle Point and Essex county councillor.