Metropolitan Police detective keeps job after attacking man while off duty

DC Darrell Jones accepted a caution over assault in Westminster

A hearing found the allegations proven and served DC Jones with a final written warning (Getty)

A Metropolitan Police officer has been allowed to keep his job after attacking a man while he was off duty.

Detective Constable Darrell Jones is attached to to the Serious and Organised Crime Command, which investigates crimes including gangs, drug smuggling, kidnapping, guns and robbery in London.

He was cautioned for common assault in Temple Place, Westminster, on 8 December after attacking a 26-year-old man.

A Special Case Hearing held earlier this month found the allegations proven and served the officer with a final written warning.

Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt, who chaired the hearing, said: “The Met is committed to delivering a professional service of the highest standard to the public and expects its employees to conduct themselves professionally at all times, whether on or off-duty.

“When officers fail to meet this expectation, this brings discredit to the Met and has the potential to impact negatively on public trust and confidence.

“DC Jones has admitted guilt in this matter and accepted a police caution. I have therefore decided that the appropriate sanction is a final written warning.”

In a separate hearing on the same day, another Metropolitan Police officer was given a final written warning for forging a signature on a cannabis warning form.

PC Robyn Harwood-Lewis, based in Southwark, then lied to her supervisor to cover her mistake, Scotland Yard said.

Assistant Commissioner Hewitt said: “Securing and maintaining the trust of the community is integral to the principle of policing by consent, and in order to do so, the Met recognises that its employees must conduct themselves professionally, ethically and with the utmost integrity at all times.”

Several officers have been disciplined or dismissed by the UK’s biggest force in the past month.

PC Matthew Sherratt was dismissed for passing offenders’ personal details to someone outside the Met on 27 July, while PC Miladur Khan was sacked following a separate hearing on the same day, for perverting the course of justice over a car crash.

PC Grant Thomas was dismissed after admitting to making, distributing and possessing indecent images of children, while PC Noel Wilson was sacked earlier this month after being convicted of misconduct in public office.

PC David Gray, an officer from the Flying Squad armed response unit who was convicted of criminal damage of assault during a road rage incident, was also fired earlier this month.