A former police officer, Sergeant Frank Partridge, has been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison after being convicted of seven counts of bribery. Partridge, who worked as a licensing officer in Westminster, was involved in a corrupt scheme where he accepted bribes from licensed premises in the West End of London. The complex anti-corruption investigation revealed Partridge’s unethical practices, leading to his dismissal from the Metropolitan Police in 2016.
Partridge’s role as a licensing officer required him to consult with the local authority regarding licensing applications and supervise licensed premises for compliance. However, he developed inappropriate relationships and received money and gifts from individuals associated with licensed venues and security firms. This allowed him to influence licensing hearings and shield venues from enforcement actions.
The investigation, known as Operation Joseph, started in 2013 and involved extensive analysis of digital files from 178 devices and numerous paper records. The Metropolitan Police’s Anti-Corruption and Abuse Command diligently worked to compile evidence against Partridge and four others charged with bribery.
Commander James Harman, Professionalism, acknowledged the efforts put into the case while highlighting the crucial changes made to the way the Met now operates its licensing units. These measures aim to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The introduction of better oversight, a Central Licensing Team, and stronger relationships between authorities and the industry contribute to the identification and management of potential risks.
During the trial, it was revealed that Partridge took bribes from four groups connected to licensed venues and security companies in the West End. The bribes included free meals, drinks, tailored clothing, tickets to exclusive events, and a family holiday valued at roughly £7,000. Partridge failed to perform his duty and downplayed allegations of crime at a nightclub co-run by one of the bribe providers. He falsely claimed that police investigations had concluded with no further action, intentionally painting a better picture of the venue beforehand.
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