Met PC has alleged breath alcohol reading 8 times legal limit while on duty

If allegations are proven at misconduct hearing, PS David Thompson could be sacked
A breathalyser
PA Archive
Miriam Burrell16 May 2023
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

A Metropolitan Police officer is facing a misconduct hearing after it is alleged he had a breath alcohol reading almost eight times higher than allowed on duty.

A one-day hearing will be held on Friday for PS David Thompson, based at Central West Command Unit, after he was allegedly caught above the legal alcohol limit while on the job.

It is alleged that on September 21 last year PS Thompson was working when he was deemed “unfit for duty” due to alcohol consumption.

When breathalysed, he provided a sample of 98 micrograms (μg) of alcohol per 100 millilitres (ml) of breath. The “fit for duty” limit is 13μg.

The sergeant will answer to allegations that his conduct amounts to a breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour in respect of fitness for duty and discreditable conduct.

If proven, his actions will amount to gross misconduct, and could justify being sacked.

PS Thompson is one of five Met officers facing misconduct hearings this month.

At another hearing on Friday, a panel will hear convicted sex offender PC Farhan Ghadiali’s case.

At Chelmsford Crown Court on March 24, PC Ghadiali was found guilty of sexual assaulting a child under the age of 13. He awaits sentencing.

PC Thomas Andrews also faces a misconduct hearing on Friday after he pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm after attacking a female in the street in July 2022 while off duty. He was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment on March 6.

Meanwhile PC David Kingscott is accused of making lewd and sexualised comments about members of the public, and two female colleagues, while on duty in August last year.

He then allegedly engaged in conversation with a colleague in direct violation of an order preventing him from directly or indirectly contacting her. His one-day hearing is also on Friday.

It is alleged that PC Maxwell Thompson used excessive force on a suspect at a Bromley station, which was not “justified or necessary in the circumstances and was in any event disproportionate and unreasonable in order to detain this member of the public”.

His five-day hearing starts next Monday.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in