Allegations that senior Met officer took LSD dismissed by tribunal
Commander Julian Bennett, who has been within the drive since 1976, is accused of smoking hashish day by day – including before breakfast and going to work – and that allegation continues to be earlier than the tribunal.
He can be accused of “never being sober at home” by his former flatmate and is claimed to have failed to supply a urine pattern for a medicine take a look at and lied about why.
The allegations in regards to the officer taking magic mushrooms on vacation in France and LSD at a celebration have been “hearsay” allegations made by Hugo Pereria – who lived with the complainant Sheila Gomes and Mr Bennett in late 2019.
The listening to has been instructed Mr Pereria “always lied” however Ms Gomes claimed this was solely when he was requested if he had used medication.
Panel chairman Akbar Khan stated: “The panel takes the view that she (Ms Gomes) wasn’t particularly qualifying about what he (Mr Pereria) lied about… and that he lied and lied as he wished.
“The panel can’t conclude, on the balance of probabilities, that Commander Bennett had taken LSD and magic mushrooms.
“Those allegations are stopped or dismissed by this panel.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Detective Constable Keith Handley instructed the listening to a call was taken to not conduct door-to-door inquiries asking neighbours whether or not they might scent hashish.
It was additionally determined that no utility for a warrant to look the tackle needs to be made.
Checks have been carried out to see if there was any info or intelligence on the tackle utilizing a police pc system.
Mr Bennett’s lawyer John Beggs KC requested the officer: “Do you agree with me that not all reasonable lines of inquiry had been followed?”
He replied: “Yes.”
He additionally in contrast the case to that of Liam Allan, who was falsely accused of rape till the case collapsed in 2017 resulting from police errors dealing with his cell phone messages. He has made the comparability earlier than.
Mr Bennett wrote the drive’s medication technique for 2017-21 as a commander for territorial policing.
The doc, known as Dealing With The Impact Of Drugs On Communities, arrange plans to lift “awareness of the impact of drug misuse”.
Freedom of knowledge requests confirmed Mr Bennett presided over 74 police misconduct hearings involving 90 officers between June 2010 and February 2012.
Out of the hearings involving Mr Bennett, 56 officers have been dismissed – greater than three quarters.
He chaired 69 hearings throughout that point and two officers have been dismissed for medication misuse, the figures confirmed.
Mr Bennett is accused of breaching the drive’s skilled requirements for discreditable conduct thrice, honesty and integrity twice and orders and directions as soon as.
His actions are alleged to have amounted to gross misconduct.
He denies the allegations and has been suspended on full pay since July 2021.
The tribunal continues. Mr Bennett is anticipated to offer proof on Thursday.