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Telegraph
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Royal protection officers protest over Notting Hill Carnival
Members of Scotland Yard's elite royal protection unit are being drafted in to help police this year's Notting Hill Carnival amid mounting concern over the safety of the event, The Telegraph can reveal. Hundreds of personal protection officers – whose day to day roles involve looking after members of the Royal family, senior politicians and other VIPs – have been ordered to turn out and help man the barricades at next month's event. They will join around 7,000 other Metropolitan Police officers tasked with keeping an estimated two million revellers safe throughout the three day street party. Any officers with specific public order policing qualifications will be deployed to units primed to respond quickly to outbreaks of trouble or violence. But the vast majority – who only have basic public order training – will effectively be employed as stewards attempting to marshal the huge crowds. Crowd density concerns The decision to draft in specialist units to assist with the carnival comes amid growing concern at Scotland Yard that there could be a crush at the event because of the high density of attendees. In a report published in April this year, Asst Commissioner Matt Twist, from the Met Police, said: 'While we acknowledge the crime often gets the headlines, the thing that worries me most is the crowd density and the potential for a mass casualty event.' Met bosses are therefore determined to have as many resources available as they can muster. The decision to draft in personnel from royal protection and other specialist units also comes after Scotland Yard was criticised for relying too heavily on neighbourhood officers to fulfil public order commitments. Extracting officers from community policing makes it harder to tackle street crime and reduces trust and confidence in the Met. The recent pro-Palestinian marches and other large scale demonstrations have put a huge strain on the force, with a recent figures revealing that between Oct 7 2023 and June 2024 almost 52,000 officer shifts were dedicated to policing protests. Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Commissioner, has pledged to spread the public order load more fairly and ensure it is not just the neighbourhood teams that bear the brunt. But the order has gone down badly with many of those in the Royal and Specialist Protection (RaSP) command and is not without its practical problems Most RaSP officers work in plain clothes roles and have not worn uniform for years. Some of those ordered onto the front line have discovered that their original kit is out of date or no longer fits and so have been forced to order new ones in time for the carnival. They also had to urgently complete a Body Worn Video (BWV) training course as it is not standard equipment in RaSP, but is compulsory when doing public order jobs. Sources within the unit have said the orders have gone down very badly with officers, most of whom have not done public order work for years. 'No choice in the matter' One source said: 'They are highly trained, highly experienced specialists, and so are not happy about being told they have to do basic public order policing. 'They will essentially be working as glorified stewards but they don't have any choice in the matter. It's an order from the top but it could hardly be less welcome. 'Notting Hill is the least popular job of the year. It's not an exaggeration to say that the vast majority of officers hate working at Notting Hill, even those who do regular public order work. 'The shifts are very long, the conditions are really stressful and it is a pretty thankless role. The crowds seem to get bigger every year and it is extremely difficult to move around. Even when something happens it can be almost impossible for officers to get to the scene quickly. 'Huge drain' on Met resources Susan Hall, the vice chairman of the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee, also expressed concern about this year's event. She said: 'There is little wonder the police hate having to work at Notting Hill Carnival. It is a huge drain on the Met's resources each year and senior officers share my concerns that it is becoming far too dangerous. 'The organisers have failed to ensure there is sufficient stewarding and it is becoming almost impossible to manage the crowds. Do we have to wait until there is a mass casualty tragedy before the organisers listen to our concerns? 'Also the pro-Palestinian protests have been an enormous drain on Met resources. Virtually every weekend sees a massive public order policing event and so Notting Hill Carnival is frankly the last thing the force needs. 'Now we hear they are even having to draft in officers from royal protection to plug the gaps. It is surely time to end this madness and let the police get back to policing rather than working as glorified security guards at an unnecessary event.'
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Senior Met police officer who claimed six-figure salary for nearly five years despite refusing to take drugs test is finally sacked
A senior Metropolitan Police officer has finally been sacked for a second time after refusing to take a drugs test despite earning a six-figure salary while on suspension for nearly five years. Commander Julian Bennett, who wrote the Met's official drugs strategy and once presided over dozens of misconduct hearings, was dismissed after a disciplinary panel found his refusal to provide a urine sample in July 2020 amounted to gross misconduct. It marks the second time Bennett has been sacked by the force, after his first dismissal in October 2023 was overturned by the Police Appeals Tribunal (PAT) last summer. The Met then opted not to pursue a Judicial Review, instead holding a fresh misconduct hearing in September, which again concluded with his dismissal. Bennett, who joined the force in 1976 and rose to one of its most senior ranks, had been suspended on full pay since 2021. The case is estimated to have cost the taxpayer around £1.5 million. 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.' Bennett was asked to provide a urine sample on July 21, 2020, after being reported by a former flatmate, but refused in the presence of an assistant commissioner. Instead, he offered to resign immediately and requested a meeting with then-Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick. He later claimed he had been taking cannabidiol (CBD) for facial palsy and feared a positive test result might wrongly suggest drug misuse. The panel concluded that his refusal breached standards relating to honesty and integrity, discreditable conduct, and orders and instructions. Bennett's dismissal means he will now be added to the College of Policing's barred list, preventing him from holding any policing role in the future. He had previously faced allegations of cannabis use made by his former flatmate, Sheila Gomes, who claimed he had used the drug daily before leaving for work at Scotland Yard. However, a three-person panel rejected that claim, as well as an allegation that Bennett gave an untruthful explanation for refusing the test. During tribunal proceedings, Mark Ley-Morgan KC, representing the Metropolitan Police, said it would have 'smacked of organised corruption at the highest level' if Bennett had been allowed to resign and avoid the disciplinary process. Bennett's barrister, John Beggs KC, dismissed the allegations by Ms Gomes, calling her a 'liar' and a 'fantasist' who he claimed wanted to write a book and profit from her accusations. The tribunal heard she had a history of litigation, including in her native Portugal. Despite being cleared of using cannabis, Bennett's refusal to take the test was considered serious enough to warrant dismissal. At the time of the request, he was still a serving officer and had played a central role in shaping the Met's anti-drug policies. His own 2017–2021 strategy document, Dealing With The Impact Of Drugs On Communities, aimed to raise awareness of the dangers of drug misuse. Between 2010 and 2012, Bennett chaired 74 misconduct hearings involving 90 officers, resulting in 56 dismissals. Twist added: '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.'
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 Irish Sun
03-06-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Senior police officer who wrote the Met's drugs strategy fired for second time after refusing to take drugs test
A SENIOR police officer has been fired for a second time after refusing to take a drugs test. 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. READ MORE ON POLICE '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. Most read in The Sun 1 Senior cop Julian Bennett has been fired for a second time after refusing to take a drugs test
The Sun
03-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
Senior police officer who wrote the Met's drugs strategy fired for second time after refusing to take drugs test
A SENIOR police officer has been fired for a second time after refusing to take a 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
