diff --git a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/Item.java b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/Item.java
index ba807913c8..0c5f5da09c 100644
--- a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/Item.java
+++ b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/Item.java
@@ -1872,7 +1872,16 @@ public class Item extends DSpaceObject
 
         // remove all of our authorization policies
         AuthorizeManager.removeAllPolicies(ourContext, this);
-
+        
+        // Remove any Handle
+        // FIXME: HandleManager should provide a way of doing this. 
+        // Plus, deleting a Handle may have ramifications
+        // that need considering.
+        DatabaseManager.updateQuery(ourContext,
+                "DELETE FROM handle WHERE resource_type_id= ? " +
+                "AND resource_id= ? ",
+                Constants.ITEM,getID());
+        
         // Finally remove item row
         DatabaseManager.delete(ourContext, itemRow);
     }