Officer sacked over drugs claims

A senior Scotland Yard officer has been sacked over claims he boasted of taking drugs on a dating website.

The 46-year-old chief inspector was also said to have trawled the internet looking for women who wanted sex with a man in a uniform.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission said the central London-based officer was fired after a two day misconduct hearing.

The watchdog said he told website users he was a serving police officer who had committed criminal offences including drug-taking and a sexual offence.

He was also found to have used his position to advertise himself online in an attempt to meet sexual partners while in uniform.

His behaviour on the internet amounted to gross misconduct, the watchdog said.

An earlier investigation by Kent Police had found that there was insufficient evidence to pursue any criminal allegations.

IPCC commissioner Mike Franklin said: "Police officers, by virtue of the powers vested in them, hold positions of authority and trust in our communities.

"Those who discredit their role cannot expect to continue to serve the public and, as in this case, they should be dismissed."

Two days of evidence proved the officer committed "gross and discreditable conduct", police said.

Commander Peter Spindler, director of professional standards at the Met, said: "Officers and staff may believe that what they do online, whether on duty or off-duty, is either anonymous or doesn't have any impact on others.

"This is not the case. The Metropolitan Police Service will pursue any allegations regarding improper online activity as vigorously as any wrongdoing offline.

"We expect our employees to behave professionally, morally, ethically and with the utmost humility and integrity in all areas of their lives. Anything short of this will not be tolerated."

PA