A PSNI officer was disciplined after losing his gun in a supermarket, it was revealed yesterday.
Luckily it was quickly located by staff in the store toilets and police informed.
It was one of three guns reported lost by officers between 2005 and 2008, deputy Chief Constable Paul Leighton told the Policing Board.
The second gun was reported stolen by an officer from his home — and then recovered later in the house.
The third gun was reported lost after an officer said he had left it in his locker when he retired. "It was found when he remembered where he had left it," said Mr Leighton.
All officers had been "dealt with", he said.
Throughout the UK there have been continuing reports of highly sensitive and confidential material being lost — particularly on laptop computers .
Mr Leighton said no there were no such losses within the PSNI — however six police notebooks, officially classed as confidential, have also been lost — four in public places and two, it is believed, in police stations.
The deputy chief constable said disciplinary action, ranging upwards from what he called "advise and guidance" had been offered.
"It is something treated very, very seriously," he said.
PA