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Met Police chief inspector sacked over sex and drugs boast | Met Police chief inspector sacked over sex and drugs boast |
(40 minutes later) | |
A Metropolitan Police chief inspector has been sacked after boasting on a dating website of committing a sexual offence and taking drugs. | A Metropolitan Police chief inspector has been sacked after boasting on a dating website of committing a sexual offence and taking drugs. |
He was also found to have used his position to advertise himself online to meet sexual partners while in uniform. | He was also found to have used his position to advertise himself online to meet sexual partners while in uniform. |
The officer was dismissed for gross misconduct after a two-day hearing. | The officer was dismissed for gross misconduct after a two-day hearing. |
The Met and the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) refused to name the 46-year-old officer, who was based in central London. | |
An earlier investigation of the chief inspector by Kent Police did not find enough evidence to press criminal charges. | An earlier investigation of the chief inspector by Kent Police did not find enough evidence to press criminal charges. |
The IPCC said he told website users he was a serving police officer who had committed crimes including drug-taking and a sexual offence. | |
He is the third Metropolitan Police officer to be sacked in a month. | |
An constable was dismissed for mishandling 999 calls, while a sergeant was fired after he indecently assaulted a "vulnerable" teenager while on duty. | |
'Authority and trust' | 'Authority and trust' |
The chief inspector was originally arrested by Kent Police last year and an internal Met investigation was launched. | |
At this point he had his duties restricted. | |
When Kent Police decided it was not proceeding with criminal charges, an internal disciplinary hearing was arranged, and this found he had committed gross misconduct. | |
IPCC commissioner Mike Franklin said: "Police officers, by virtue of the powers vested in them, hold positions of authority and trust in our communities. | 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." | "Those who discredit their role cannot expect to continue to serve the public and, as in this case, they should be dismissed." |
Commander Peter Spindler, Scotland Yard's director of professional standards, 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. | Commander Peter Spindler, Scotland Yard's director of professional standards, 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. |
"We expect our employees to behave professionally, morally, ethically and with the utmost humility and integrity in all areas of their lives. | "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." | "Anything short of this will not be tolerated." |