A Metropolitan Police sergeant supervising the protection of the Iranian embassy in London has been sacked after turning up drunk for duty.
Police Sergeant Paul Barrett has been dismissed without notice after his behaviour was found to have amounted to gross misconduct.
He was removed from duty on March 1 after it was suspected he had consumed alcohol before or during his shift which involved driving a vehicle.
A breath test produced a reading of 46 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, in excess of the legal limit.
According to the outcome report from a police misconduct hearing, Sgt Barrett pleaded guilty on March 16 at Westminster Magistrates’ Court to driving with excess alcohol.
He was fined £700 and disqualified from driving for 14 months, the report said.
It added that Sgt Barrett was “well over” the limit for officers on duty – 13 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, and the criminal driving limit which is 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.
Outlining Sgt Barrett’s responsibilities on the day in question, the report explained that in recent months more police officers have been posted to the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to augment the existing security provided by the Met’s Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command (PaDP).
They are supervised by a sergeant, who drives between embassies ensuring posts are covered and officers remain alert, and on March 1 Sgt Barrett was the supervising sergeant.
Two officers from the augmenting serial unit were on foot patrol when Sgt Barrett arrived at the embassy, the report said.
It added: “The officers observed PS Barrett smelled of alcohol. When they challenged him on this, he became defensive and then refused to engage further.”
After concerns were raised up the chain of command, Sgt Barrett was removed from duties.
Writing about the standards of professional behaviour that were breached by Sgt Barrett, Commander Jason Prins, chairman of the misconduct hearing, said: “I found you were not fit to carry out your responsibilities.
“Attending a shift with excess alcohol is unacceptable. This was a shift during which you were required to drive and the amount of alcohol in your system meant it was illegal for you to drive.
“This was a shift in which you were supervising other officers in a high-profile, sensitive and stressful protection post.
“You were perceptibly in drink to them, such that they raised it with you and then another supervisor.”
He added that he found Sgt Barrett’s conduct was discreditable to both himself and the police and “likely to seriously damage confidence in the police”.
The report acknowledged that this was “a single and short incident of misconduct, in the context of many years of service” and that seven character references for Sgt Barrett were provided which spoke “glowingly” of his character and service.
