Police officer is caught playing on a trampoline and performing a backflip while out on a drug bust

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A police officer is facing an inquiry after causing fury when he was spotted jumping up and down on a trampoline during a drugs raid.

The policeman was filmed in a garden in a residential street in Coventry by a neighbour and was seen taking off his kit belt before performing stunts while fellow officers laughed.

West Midlands Police confirmed it has launched an investigation into the incident which 'appears to have fallen short of high standards'.

A police officer has been filmed jumping on a trampoline at a property in Coventry while on a drugs raid, pictured 

The neighbour who filmed the antics told The Sun: 'This is what you pay your taxes for. I can't f*****g believe it.'

Former Detective Chief Inspector Mike Neville added the war on drugs had been 'taken over by a circus with an acrobatic officer as star act'.

He told the paper: 'The British bobby used to be respected throughout the world. A professional, authority figure with a friendly smile and ability to catch crooks.

'Officers now seem to model themselves on Kindergarten Cop rather than Dixon of Dock Green. Too often they are seen fooling around and bringing policing into disrepute.'

West Midlands Police issued a statement on Monday which confirmed it is aware of video footage being circulated that 'shows a police officer on a trampoline.'

Supt Jenny Skyrme, from the Force Response team, said: 'We expect our officers to have the highest standards in their conduct and behaviour and sadly, this appears to fall short of that.

'Our Professional Standards Department have been informed who will review the matter to determine if there is a breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour.'

Two police officers were criticised by their own commander earlier this month after being filmed dancing with Extinction Rebellion demonstrators at a rave at Oxford Circus in London 

It comes just two weeks after Met Police officers were seen dancing to music at Extinction Rebellion protests in London, while another was spotted skateboarding on Waterloo Bridge.

Officers were slammed by their own commander over their actions in Oxford Circus, which was also captured on camera.

Speaking at the time, Commander Jane Connors of the Metropolitan Police, said: 'I'm disappointed by the video and the unacceptable behaviour of the officers in it.

'We expect our officers to engage with protestors but clearly their actions fall short of the tone of the policing operation at a time when people are frustrated at the actions of the protestors.

'We will be reminding officers of their responsibilities and expectations in policing this operation - however the majority of officers have been working long hours and I am grateful to them for their continued commitment.'

The new footage comes just days after figures revealed the number of killings on Britain's streets is at its highest level in a decade.

There were 732 police recorded homicides - which includes murders and manslaughter cases - in England and Wales last year, the highest since 2008 and the equivalent of two a day.

The number of knife offences also rose by six per cent - with more 40,800 recorded crimes involving a blade.

The West Midlands was the second worst area for knife crime in Britain with 3,210 incidents in 2018, a 17 per cent rise on the previous year. 

Separate figures show fewer criminals are being caught, with only 8.2 per cent of offences leading to charges, down from 9.1 per cent in 2017.

The number of homicides - which includes murder and manslaughter cases - dropped between 2009 and 2014- but has since risen sharply