Ex-Met Sergeant Busted for Bribery in Westminster Licensing Scandal
Former Sergeant Frank Partridge, once a licensing officer in Westminster, has been found guilty of seven offences, including bribery. The Southwark Crown Court trial, which lasted three months, also saw four others convicted of similar charges.
Bribery, Freebies, and Favouritism Exposed
During the trial, shocking evidence revealed Partridge pocketed cash and gifts in exchange for pulling strings at licensing hearings. He handed out glowing recommendations to venues, shielding them from enforcement action. This abuse of power seriously undermined trust in the Westminster Licensing Unit. Since then, the Met Police have overhauled licensing procedures to clamp down on corruption.
Dive into Decade-Long Investigation
Partridge was sacked from the Metropolitan Police back in April 2016. The investigation, dubbed Operation Joseph, began in 2013 and involved combing through thousands of digital and paper records. The Anti-Corruption and Abuse Command pieced together the damning evidence.
Commander James Harman, head of Professionalism at the Met, said: “Our team’s relentless work highlights our zero tolerance for corruption. We’ve implemented big changes in licensing units and will continue to hold corrupt officers and their enablers accountable.”
Lavish Bribes and Shameless Cover-Ups
The court revealed Partridge, now living in Spain but formerly from Wing, Buckinghamshire, took bribes from four groups tied to West End venues and security firms. These included free meals, drinks, bespoke clothing, VIP event tickets, and even a family holiday valued at nearly £7,000. He ignored crimes at certain venues and doctored info to grease licensing approvals.
Operation Joseph may date back nearly a decade, but its fallout is ongoing. London’s bustling licensed scene — with over 30,000 venues open late — demands sharp policing to keep locals and visitors safe.
Partridge faces sentencing on July 18. The other bribery convicts will be sentenced on September 21.
