A LANCASHIRE police officer was the head of a machine-gun carrying organised crime gang.

Former Nelson sergeant Salim Razaq, 33, led an amazing double life which saw him take control of a notorious drugs and money laundering group.

He took over the gang when his younger brother was jailed for kidnapping and beating up a rival.

The ex-police officer was finally caught in a dramatic raid on his home after being watched covertly for months.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Cooke said Razaq was 'nothing short of a criminal in a police uniform'.

He said he was appalled and pledged to root out any 'bad apples' in the force.

John O'Reilly, branch chairman of the Lancashire Police Federation, said the case was 'beyond belief' and it was a sad day for Lancashire.

Razaq had three lethal Uzi sub-machine guns and Sten guns at his house, live ammunition, and £72,000 in 'drug money' when his colleagues raided his semi-detached home in March.

He picked up the mantle left when his younger brother was jailed for six years in 2009 for kidnapping and beating up a rival gang member.

Investigations into personal bank accounts revealed money laundering between gang members and it was also discovered he was illegally accessing the force’s intelligence database.

Last month Razaq admitted misconduct in a public office, perverting the course of justice, possession of ammunition, three counts of possession of firearms and money laundering.

But it could not be reported until Liverpool Crown Court Judge Henry Globe QC today lifted restrictions after a separate charge against Salim Razaq of an alleged £135,000 mortgage fraud was dismissed.

Although it is thought that Razaq had not got involved in his family's crime activities until his brother was charged, Lancashire police has since improved its vetting procedures for recruiting and serving officers.

This involves not just checking staff when they join the force, but continues once they are a police officer.

Razaq was sacked from the force at a special case hearing in June on the basis of the guns being found at his home address.

Assistant Chief Constable Cooke said Razaq was 'nothing short of a criminal in a police uniform'.

He said: "Salim Razaq was nothing short of a criminal in a police uniform and I am appalled by the fact that a police officer was involved at the level he was in this criminality.

"However, I am extremely proud of the Lancashire officers who put this case together.

"We are resolute in our commitment to root out any bad apples that fail to maintain the high standards of professional behaviour and integrity which the vast majority of our staff adhere to."

Lancashire Police Federation chairman Mr O'Reilly said officers had been stunned by the case.

He said: "Not in my 29 years have I heard of such a serious case involving firearms, money laundering and such blatant criminality.

"It's beyond belief and very sad for the rest of the force to be tainted with the same sort of crush as this person.

“He's an out and out criminal just using the force as a means to an end. It's a sad day for Lancashire.”

Police said there had been 'no issues' over crimes he has investigated.

But Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson urged any constituent concerned to contact him, senior officers or the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

He said: "The public will be shocked and appalled to hear about this case.

“The vast majority of police men and women are dedicated public servants and law-abiding.

"Cases like this are horrendous and I'm pleased this officer has been caught and brought to justice.

“From my experience significant background checks are made in the force.

"Unfortunately there's always one who slips through. It underlines the importance of being vigilant."

As Razaq pleaded guilty, his brother Hafiz Razaq, 25, and their mother Gulshan Razaq, 58, of Chester Road, Clayton-le-Dale, admitted perverting the course of justice.

Hafiz also admitted a charge of money laundering.

Last month, seven other associates of the British-Pakistani Razaq family, including sister Noreen Razaq, had appeared before the court over allegations of their involvement in the laundering of criminal cash.

On October 4, Jason Lawrenson, 25, recently convicted of blackmail and described in court as Hafiz Razaq's 'right-hand man', pleaded guilty to money laundering, as did 'runner' Daniel Cookson, 25, from Yew Tree Avenue, Preston.

On October 8, Razaq's sister Noreen Razaq, 27, of Andrew Street, Preston, brothers Sarfaraz, 32, and Faizal Patel, 22, both of Dodgson Road, Preston, and 64-year-old Abdoolgani Patel (no relation) of Fareham Close, Preston, all appeared at court on money laundering charges.

Judge Globe ordered that the charges were to lie on the file.

Louis Bamber, 22, of HMP Liverpool, had already pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm after his prints were found on one of the machine guns at Salim Razaq's Walton-le-Dale home.

Razaq's barrister, Andrew Menary QC, attempted to obtain a further ban on reporting yesterday, arguing that his client would be in danger in prison.

But Judge Globe said: “He will not be the only police officer, sadly, who will have been in custody.

“There's nothing that I'm aware of to suggest he should be made a special case.”

On the vetting process changes, Detective Superintendent Martyn Leveridge, head of the Professional Standards Department, said: “When Salim Razaq came into the force his brother didn’t have any convictions at all.

"Clearly, as time went on over the intervening nine years, his brother was convicted and he has got a criminal history now, further to the conspiracy to kidnap.

“If you want to put it simply Salim Razaq has taken over the family business, he’s taken on what his brother was potentially doing prior to him going to prison.

“We’ve got in-service vetting now and regular checks on people’s history."

Razaq and his gang will be sentenced next week.

SALIM RAZAQ

* March 5, 2001 Salim Razaq joins Lancashire Constabulary as a geographic response officer based at Nelson.

* February 2005 Given a six-month posting to the motorway unit.

* September 2005 Returns to Pennine Division, covering Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, as a geographic response officer. During this time he received a temporary promotion to sergeant.

* January 2009 On New Year's Day Razaq is promoted to sergeant on the Nelson response team.

* March 19 2010 Suspended after being charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, misconduct in a public office, three counts of possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition and money laundering.

* June 2, 2010 He was dismissed from the force at a special hearing.

* November 4, 2010 It can be revealed Razaq faces jail after admitting all the charges.