Senior police officer who wrote the Met's drugs strategy fired for second time after refusing to take drugs test
Commander Julian Bennett last year successfully appealed against his initial dismissal in 2023.
The Met then ordered a fresh misconduct hearing for his refusal to provide a urine sample in 2020.
It again found him guilty of gross misconduct.
The cop, on the force since 1976, had been suspended on full pay throughout the process.
Met Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said: 'I am enormously concerned that almost five years since this incident happened we have only now been able to dismiss Commander Bennett.
'This should have been a simple matter. Commander Bennett has never disputed he refused a lawful order to take a drugs test.
'As a senior officer who had chaired misconduct hearings, Commander Bennett was highly experienced and knew full well what was required of him, yet he made a choice not to co-operate.
'He has been suspended on full pay for an extraordinary length of time. I am sure Londoners will be as outraged as we are at the utter waste of public funds spent paying a senior officer to sit at home suspended and not work.'
Mr Bennett wrote the Met's drugs strategy for 2017-21, titled Dealing With The Impact Of Drugs On Communities.
1
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
22 minutes ago
- The Independent
What to know about Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend
Once a British socialite who lived a life of luxury, Ghislaine Maxwell today is confined in a U.S. prison after being convicted of helping financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. Now, three years after she was sentenced, a top U.S. Department of Justice official plans to personally interview Maxwell to find out if she has information about anyone who has committed crimes against Epstein's victims. It isn't clear what Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche might learn from the meeting. Maxwell has long claimed she is innocent and had no knowledge that Epstein, or anyone else, was sexually abusing teenagers. Epstein killed himself while awaiting trial in 2019, but his case has generated endless attention and conspiracy theories because of his and Maxwell's links to famous people, including royals, presidents and billionaires. President Donald Trump has suggested in the past there was a cover-up. Now his administration is dealing with the fallout after the Justice Department initially announced two weeks ago that it would not release any more evidence about the Epstein investigation. The department has since changed course, at Trump's urging. Who is Ghislaine Maxwell? She grew up as the daughter of the late British billionaire Robert Maxwell, a former member of Parliament whose publishing empire included the Daily Mirror, one of Britain's biggest tabloid newspapers, and the book publisher Macmillan. As a college student, she became close friends with Britain's Prince Andrew, who would later invite her to royal residences, including Windsor Castle. But the Maxwell family was shattered by scandal. After Robert Maxwell fell from his yacht and died in 1991, investigators accused him of embezzling huge sums of money from his companies' pension funds. Soon after her father's death, Ghislaine Maxwell was photographed at a memorial sitting next to Epstein, an American money manager. Maxwell dated Epstein but later also became his employee, taking on a variety of tasks, including hiring staff for his six homes. How did Ghislaine Maxwell help Epstein? Part of Maxwell's household duties included hiring a steady stream of young people to give massages to Epstein. 'As far as I'm concerned, everyone who came to his house was an adult professional person,' she said in a deposition nearly a decade ago. But police and prosecutors said many of those 'masseuses' were underage girls who were paid for sexual acts. Epstein was arrested in 2006 in Palm Beach, Florida, after multiple girls, including students from a local high school, spoke to police. But he ultimately pleaded guilty in 2008 to a single charge of procuring a person under 18 for prostitution and served 13 months in jail. Maxwell wasn't charged until 2021. At her trial, four women testified that Maxwell groomed them as teenagers to participate in sexual acts with Epstein and sometimes participated in the abuse. Maxwell's lawyers argued that the women's recollections had been manipulated by lawyers pursuing civil lawsuits, pointing to inconsistencies in their testimony. A jury convicted Maxwell of sex trafficking, conspiracy and transportation of a minor for illegal sexual activity. Why do investigators want to talk to Maxwell now? The Justice Department's request to talk with Maxwell comes at a time when it is dealing with backlash from some of President Donald Trump's supporters, some of whom believe there has been a government cover-up to protect Epstein's rich and powerful friends from being implicated in his crimes. The department asked a judge last week to unseal transcripts of the grand jury sessions that led to indictments against Epstein and Maxwell. The Justice Department said in a memo that it had not uncovered evidence to charge anyone else in connection with Epstein's abuse. But Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on social media that 'if Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say.' He said he anticipated meeting with Maxwell in the coming days. Will she talk? It remains to be seen. One of her lawyers, David Oscar Markus, said Tuesday that they were in discussions with the government. 'Ghislaine will always testify truthfully,' he said in the statement. Maxwell did not testify at her trial but gave two lengthy depositions years ago. She repeatedly said that one of Epstein's accusers, who claimed he had trafficked her to powerful men, including Prince Andrew, was a liar who fabricated her story. Where is Ghislaine Maxwell now? Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence and is currently at a low-security federal prison in Tallahassee, Florida. Her attorneys have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court after a lower court upheld her convictions last fall. ___
The Sun
22 minutes ago
- The Sun
Leftie union boss Len McCluskey took private jet rides from building firm that overcharged Unite by £30m, report reveals
LEFTIE union baron Len McCluskey took private plane flights and football tickets from a building firm, a report reveals. The firm is also said to have overcharged Unite by at least £30million for building a £96million hotel. An internal investigation by the union said the Flanagan Group, run by pals of McCluskey, was handed the job to build the hotel complex in Birmingham without a single rival bid. Sharon Graham, who has since replaced McCluskey as Unite general secretary, hired barrister Martin Bowdery KC in 2021 after she found a £125million black hole in the union's accounts. She told the BBC: 'I was absolutely astounded. It's either rank incompetence, or something else.' The report, seen by the BBC, says McCluskey ignored legal advice and personally signed off the building contract. He later got private flights to two Liverpool Champions League finals on planes arranged and paid for by the Flanagan Group. Unite said there is no evidence he ever paid them back. The report also said he got tickets to five Liverpool matches, four with hospitality. McCluskey's lawyers told the BBC he paid for his own travel in full and always paid for his football tickets. They claim he does not recall signing the main contract and denies overruling anyone. The hotel ended up swallowing £125million of Unite cash and is now worth just £38million. Union boss Len McCluskey torn apart by voter after defending Corbyn in fiery LBC interview Ms Graham has brought in new auditors, staff and a crackdown on dodgy deals. The Flanagan Group refused to comment but previously claimed the project was 'an exceptional asset'.
The Sun
22 minutes ago
- The Sun
Second schoolgirl ‘put in isolation' for wearing Union Jack on ‘culture day' as yet another school sparks woke rule fury
A FURIOUS mum told how her daughter was among dozens of children put into 'isolation' for wearing Union Jack flags to celebrate a culture day. Pupils at Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy in Oldbury, West Midlands, had been asked to wear something to reflect their heritage for the day. 10 10 But head teacher Peter McKinniss objected to British flags and had the pupils wearing them pulled out of class and held in a meeting room, it is claimed. One pupil who challenged him over his no-flags policy, Isobelle Wehrle, 15, was then sent home for arguing and suspended for five days. Another girl, Scarlett Priest, 13, claims she was put into the meeting room for wearing a white top with a Union Jack on it. It comes after we reported how a pupil at another school, Bilton School in Rugby, Warwickshire, was banned from a 'diversity day' for wearing a Union Jack dress. Isobelle's furious mother, Leanne, 39, said: 'Isobelle was absolutely devastated when she was suspended just for asking the head why she and other pupils weren't allowed to wear Union Jack flags. "They'd been asked to go to school that day wearing something that reflected their heritage and cultural identity, so it seemed appropriate to her to wear the flag. 'Lots of kids were doing the same - some wore their flags over their shoulders, like my daughter, and others opted to wear the around their waists as skirts. 'She set off for school with her flag and she was in good spirits, but almost immediately, after she arrived at school she was put into an isolation room. 'Isobelle was put into one of many meeting rooms the school has with about 30 other kids. 'It's absolutely ridiculous. Mum is instantly mortified as she returns from the school run, looks in the mirror & realises her almighty outfit fail "Yet many other children used culture day to wear flags from the countries where their families originated, such as Jamaica and Spain, and had no problem whatsoever. 'They were allowed to wear their flags with pride.' Charity shop worker Jenny Priest claims her daughter Scarlett, 13, was also put into isolation for wearing a white t-shirt with a union jack printed on it. Jenny, 38, said: 'When she went in she was told the jeans she was wearing were too revealing but I think the real reason was because she was wearing a union jack. 'She was put into the isolation room and was really upset. She has never been in isolation before and has a brilliant school record. 'There were about 30 kids in there and they all had some kind of British thing or England top. 'It was obvious that's why they had pulled her aside. 'I went to pick her up and I saw kids walking around the playground with flags and tops of other countries like Jamaica and Albania. They weren't put into isolation. 'Isobelle stuck up for my daughter saying she shouldn't be in there and she got into trouble for that.' Bar owner Mrs Wehrle, of Oldbury, added: 'Isobelle and her friends were made to feel like wearing something British was dirty. 10 10 10 "She took the suspension very badly because she couldn't understand why the head had been so unfair. 'All she had done was question him in a very mature way about what was wrong with the British flag, but all he could reply with was: 'Because it's not allowed.'. 'He gave her no explanation beyond that. "Isobelle is not a disruptive child. She works incredibly hard and she's doing well at school. 'She always tries her best and her behaviour is impeccable. 'She's never late and she never gets into trouble – until this happened, at least.' She was put into the isolation room and was really upset. She has never been in isolation before and has a brilliant school record. Jenny Priest Mrs Wehrle said around 60 per cent of children at the 2,000-pupil school were from non-British heritage. On the day Isobelle was suspended for five days, other children were sent home for just one day for fighting, according to her mother. Another pupil, who climbed over the school gates after arriving late that day, was suspended for two days, she added. Leanne said: 'Why did Isobelle get suspended for five days just for asking mature, reasonable question? 'It feels like the headteacher reacted in a very childish way and I think she deserves an apology. "She's halfway through her GCSE course and that should be the school's priority. This is going to stay with her for a long time.' She's halfway through her GCSE course and that should be the school's priority. This is going to stay with her for a long time Leanne Wehrle Earlier this week, The Sun reported how a pupil at another school, Bilton School in Rugby, Warwickshire, was banned from a 'diversity day' for wearing a Union Jack dress. Heartbroken pupil Courtney Wright, 12, was told: 'You get to celebrate being British every day, this is for everybody else.' The Year 7 pupil teamed her dress — similar to the one worn by Spice Girl Geri Halliwell in the 1990s — with a matching bowler hat. She also planned to read a speech celebrating tea, Shakespeare, fish and chips and the royals. But the grade-A student was stopped by teachers who gave her the option of wearing a second-hand uniform instead. Courtney refused before her dad Stuart Field, 47, arrived to collect her from school. He accused teachers of 'virtue signalling' and said he had since received a grovelling apology. It feels like the headteacher reacted in a very childish way and I think she deserves an apology Leanne Wehrle A spokesperson for Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy, said: 'As part of our recent Culture Day, students were invited to wear a wide range of outfits and traditional clothing that reflected their heritage and cultural backgrounds – including those which represent British culture such as the Union Jack. 'On non-uniform days, we have clear and consistent guidelines in place that apply to all students, although no student was suspended due to their choice of outfit on the day. 'These help us maintain a positive and focused learning environment, while still allowing students to enjoy and celebrate special occasions. 'All our policies are designed with the best interests of our students at heart, and we remain proud of the inclusive and respectful culture we promote across our school community.' 10 10 10
