Police team axed for playing poker

An entire neighbourhood policing team has been axed after an internal investigation found officers had been playing backgammon and poker, watching television and cleaning golf clubs while on duty.

Seven officers resigned or were dismissed from the Safer Neighbourhood Team in the Mottingham and Chislehurst North ward in Bromley, south-east London.

Three officers were charged with criminal offences, after an undercover operation by the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards in 2010.