Latest news with #CressidaDick
The Sun
20-06-2025
- The Sun
Cop who called Des O'Connor's daughter ‘amazingly hot' while investigating mugging should've been sacked, panel rules
A "PREDATORY" Met cop who called Des O'Connor's daughter "amazingly hot" while investigating a mugging should have been sacked, a panel found. Kristina O'Connor was sent a string of messages by James Mason after he responded to the attempted robbery. 3 The detective branded her "amazingly hot" and asked her out to dinner while taking her statement. A misconduct panel found Mason "deliberately and repeatedly abused his position for a sexual purpose" and that his actions amounted to gross misconduct. He was handed a final written warning but later returned to work alongside former Met commissioner Dame Cressida Dick after the panel found sacking him would be "disproportionately harsh". Mason later resigned from the force in November 2022 but a fresh tribunal today found he should have been sacked. Delivering the panel's findings, Christopher McKay said: "In the panel's judgment, the most significant actual and potential harm was to the reputation of the Metropolitan Police Service. "Women and girls should feel confident that they are treated with courtesy and understanding if they attend a police station to make a complaint." Kristina, 37, cried as the decision was handed down today. She later said in a statement: "My experience has taught me that the police cannot be trusted with women's safety. "I was abused by a police officer who should have been helping me. "Since reporting his behaviour I have seen first-hand how the police were more interested in protecting themselves than helping me find justice, or protecting other women. "I have spent many years questioning whether the policing system can be fixed, and have come to the conclusion that if we are serious about women's safety, it needs replacing entirely. "I believe we need to abolish the police and establish an entirely new public service that actually protects and cares for women and communities." Kristina took the force to the High Court in 2023 where her lawyer argued they "failed to properly investigate" the complaint. But she was delivered a blow when a top judge rejected her appeal against the police and misconduct panel decisions. Kristina, whose comic dad Des passed away in 2020, had called police when she was attacked by a gang who attempted to steal her phone in London back in 2011. She was interviewed by Mason, and says he asked "invasive" questions with "sexual overtones". In one message, he said: "If you ever fancy having a drink with a very discreet police officer, just let me know, it would be my pleasure. "If you have any visible injuries that you would like me to record then I am happy to take a picture for you and save it in case we manage to get any further in the investigation. "I hope it doesn't hurt too much and I am sure you still look amazingly hot.' In a Met misconduct hearing in 2021, Mason was found to have breached the standards of professional behaviour on eight counts. Despite this, he was issued with only a final written warning and was allowed to keep his rank. Detective Superintendent Neil Smithson, Professional Standards, said: 'The Met took the allegations against DCI James Mason seriously and conducted an investigation that led to a misconduct hearing. "The hearing panel, led by an independent legally qualified chair, made the decision not to dismiss him and the Met Police has in no way sought to justify that decision. 'Former DCI Mason's behaviour was wholly unacceptable. A victim of crime is already likely to feel vulnerable, they should never be made to feel worse by the actions of a police officer. I hope the victim in this case takes some comfort from the outcome of the fresh hearing. 'The Commissioner has made it very clear that officers who abuse their position of trust and authority have no place in the Met. We continue our ongoing drive to improve our standards and culture.' 3 3
Telegraph
03-06-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Officer suspended over refusing to take a drugs test was on full pay for five years
A senior Metropolitan Police officer sacked for refusing to take a drugs test was on full pay for five years. Commander Julian Bennett was initially dismissed by a misconduct panel in October 2023, but took his case to the Police Appeals Tribunal (PAT) in July last year and had his sacking overturned. He was found to have committed gross misconduct by failing to provide a urine sample for a drugs test on July 21 2020, which led to his suspension shortly afterwards. Allegations that he had taken LSD and magic mushrooms were found not to be proven. A panel found he had breached professional standards when he refused to provide the sample after being called in to do so in the presence of an assistant commissioner, instead offering to resign on the spot and asking for a meeting with then-commissioner Dame Cressida Dick. Following the PAT's decision to revoke the dismissal, the Met considered a legal challenge by way of a judicial review but decided that Mr Bennett should face a fresh misconduct hearing last September. The allegation proven against Mr Bennett was again found at the level of gross misconduct at the latest hearing. The officer, who served in the force from 1976, had remained suspended throughout the process and will now be added to the College of Policing's barred list. 'I am enormously concerned' 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. Cmdr Bennett has never disputed he refused a lawful order to take a drugs test. 'As a senior officer who had chaired misconduct hearings, Cmdr Bennett was highly experienced and knew full well what was required of him, yet he made a choice not to cooperate. '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 Twist said that 'while the Met is not responsible for all the delays in Cmdr Bennett's matter, we are also working hard to expedite cases and cut bureaucracy', adding: 'I am confident a situation like Cmdr Bennett's prolonged case would not happen again.' Mr Bennett wrote the Met's drugs strategy for 2017-21 as a commander for territorial policing. The document, called Dealing with the Impact of Drugs on Communities, set up plans to raise 'awareness of the impact of drug misuse'. He chaired misconduct panels over several years and freedom of information requests showed he presided over 74 misconduct hearings involving 90 officers between June 2010 and February 2012, leading to 56 officers being dismissed.
The Independent
03-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
Senior Met officer sacked for second time over refusing drugs test
A senior Metropolitan Police officer has been sacked by the force for a second time after refusing to take a drugs test. Commander Julian Bennett was initially dismissed by a misconduct panel in October 2023 over the incident, but took his case to the Police Appeals Tribunal (PAT) in July last year and had his sacking overturned. He was found to have committed gross misconduct by failing to provide a urine sample for a drugs test on July 21 2020, which led to his suspension shortly afterwards. A panel found he had breached professional standards when he refused to provide the sample after being called in to do so in the presence of an assistant commissioner, instead offering to resign on the spot and asking for a meeting with then-commissioner Dame Cressida Dick. Following the PAT's decision to revoke the dismissal, the Met considered a legal challenge by way of a Judicial Review but decided that Mr Bennett should face a fresh misconduct hearing last September. The allegation proven against Mr Bennett was again found at the level of gross misconduct at the latest hearing. The officer, who served in the force from 1976, had remained suspended throughout the process and will now be added to the College of Policing's barred list. 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 Twist said that 'while the Met is not responsible for all the delays in Commander Bennett's matter, we are also working hard to expedite cases and cut bureaucracy', adding: 'I am confident a situation like Commander Bennett's prolonged case would not happen again.' Mr Bennett wrote the Met's drugs strategy for 2017-21 as a commander for territorial policing. The document, called Dealing With The Impact Of Drugs On Communities, set up plans to raise 'awareness of the impact of drug misuse'. He chaired misconduct panels over several years and freedom of information requests showed he presided over 74 misconduct hearings involving 90 officers between June 2010 and February 2012, leading to 56 officers being dismissed.
The Herald Scotland
03-06-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Senior Met officer sacked for second time over refusing drugs test
He was found to have committed gross misconduct by failing to provide a urine sample for a drugs test on July 21 2020, which led to his suspension shortly afterwards. A panel found he had breached professional standards when he refused to provide the sample after being called in to do so in the presence of an assistant commissioner, instead offering to resign on the spot and asking for a meeting with then-commissioner Dame Cressida Dick. Following the PAT's decision to revoke the dismissal, the Met considered a legal challenge by way of a Judicial Review but decided that Mr Bennett should face a fresh misconduct hearing last September. The allegation proven against Mr Bennett was again found at the level of gross misconduct at the latest hearing. The officer, who served in the force from 1976, had remained suspended throughout the process and will now be added to the College of Policing's barred list. 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 Twist said that 'while the Met is not responsible for all the delays in Commander Bennett's matter, we are also working hard to expedite cases and cut bureaucracy', adding: 'I am confident a situation like Commander Bennett's prolonged case would not happen again.' Mr Bennett wrote the Met's drugs strategy for 2017-21 as a commander for territorial policing. The document, called Dealing With The Impact Of Drugs On Communities, set up plans to raise 'awareness of the impact of drug misuse'. He chaired misconduct panels over several years and freedom of information requests showed he presided over 74 misconduct hearings involving 90 officers between June 2010 and February 2012, leading to 56 officers being dismissed.
The Guardian
03-06-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Senior Met officer sacked for second time after refusing 2020 drugs test
A senior Metropolitan police officer has been sacked for a second time after refusing to take a drugs test. Commander Julian Bennett was initially dismissed by a misconduct panel in October 2023 over the incident, but took his case to the police appeals tribunal (PAT) in July last year and had his sacking overturned. He had been found to have committed gross misconduct by failing to provide a urine sample for a drugs test on 21 July 2020, which led to his suspension shortly afterwards. A panel found he had breached professional standards when he refused to provide the sample after being called in to do so in the presence of an assistant commissioner, instead offering to resign on the spot and asking for a meeting with then-commissioner, Cressida Dick. After the PAT's decision to revoke the dismissal, the Met considered a legal challenge by way of a judicial review but decided Bennett should face a fresh misconduct hearing last September. The allegation proven against Bennett was again found to be at the level of gross misconduct at the latest hearing. The officer, who served in the force from 1976, had remained suspended throughout the process and will now be added to the College of Policing's barred list. 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 cooperate. '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.' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Twist said that 'while the Met is not responsible for all the delays in Commander Bennett's matter, we are also working hard to expedite cases and cut bureaucracy … I am confident a situation like Commander Bennett's prolonged case would not happen again'. Bennett wrote the Met's drugs strategy for 2017-21 as a commander for territorial policing. The document, called Dealing With The Impact Of Drugs On Communities, set up plans to raise awareness of the impact of drug misuse. He chaired misconduct panels over several years, and freedom of information requests showed he had presided over 74 hearings involving 90 officers between June 2010 and February 2012, leading to 56 being dismissed.
