Policemen face cannabis charges

Two Merseyside police officers have appeared in court charged with possession and intent to supply cannabis.

Pc Darren Burns and Pc Andrew Bird appeared before Liverpool magistrates accused of possession and intent to supply the class B drug.

Pc Bird has also been charged with supplying the drug.

Neither officer entered a plea and the case has been adjourned for a committal hearing on 27 August.

A police spokeswoman said that both officers have been suspended following their arrest in May.

She added: "The police service needs to ensure that the public has confidence in its officers and staff to act with integrity.

"Merseyside Police takes the professional standards of its officers and staff extremely seriously and, as a result, we take swift action, as in this instance, to maintain and uphold the integrity of the organisation and police service as a whole."