Police officer sacked for off-duty antics on dating website

Chief inspector guilty of 'gross and discreditable conduct' after boasting of drug taking and sex acts

A Scotland Yard officer has been dismissed after boasting on a dating website that he had taken drugs and committed a sexual offence while trawling the internet looking for women who wanted sex with a man in uniform.

The 46-year-old chief inspector – who has not been named – was sacked after a two-day misconduct hearing, which heard that he used his position as a policeman to advertise himself online to try to meet sexual partners.

An investigation last year by Kent Police found there was insufficient evidence to pursue any criminal allegations, according to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

The officer, based in central London and who was put on restricted duties after his arrest, was found guilty of committing gross and discreditable conduct while off duty and was sacked.

Mike Franklin, an IPCC commissioner, said: "Police officers, by virtue of the powers vested in them, hold positions of authority and trust in our communities."

Commander Peter Spindler, director of professional standards at the force, said: "Officers and staff may believe that what they do online, whether on duty or off-duty, is either anonymous or doesn't have any impact on others.

"This is not the case. The Metropolitan Police Service will pursue any allegations regarding improper online activity as vigorously as any wrongdoing offline."

The verdict comes a week after six police officers from the force kept their jobs after a separate disciplinary hearing despite being caught on film smashing up an unarmed suspect's car with baseball bats and pickaxe handle.

The officers from Enfield Crime Squad were found guilty of discreditable conduct at a Met Police disciplinary hearing. A detective sergeant was demoted and the others, all constables, were formally reprimanded.