Met Police Officer Caught Drink-Driving Twice in Months
Shocking misconduct from PC Gurbaksh Pattwal, 29, has rocked the Met Police. The officer from Hornchurch was found guilty of drink-driving with booze levels over twice the legal limit. Even worse, he was arrested not once, but twice earlier this year for driving erratically while wasted.
First Arrest in Romford: Breath Tests Confirmed DUI
PC Pattwal’s first run-in with the law came on February 25 in Romford. After being pulled over for suspicious driving, two breath tests revealed he was well over the drink-drive limit. Despite that, a Met Police misconduct report showed he wasn’t immediately charged due to internal policies — sparking serious questions about accountability.
Second Incident on the M25: Endangering the Public
Less than three months later, Pattwal was back behind bars on May 18. The public flagged his dangerous driving on the M25, where he not only drove erratically but also hit a motorcyclist and a curb. The misconduct report bluntly stated, “It was only through luck that PC Pattwal did not cause more damage. It is totally unacceptable for a serving officer to act in this way.”
At the time of arrest on Burntwood Avenue in Hornchurch, road-side breathalyser and subsequent blood tests revealed a staggering 176mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood — more than double the legal limit.
Sentenced and Stripped of Badge
On July 15 at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Pattwal pleaded guilty to drink-driving. He was handed a three-month community order with a curfew monitored by an electronic tag. On top of that, he received an 18-month driving ban.
In a further disgrace, Pattwal admitted failing to report a 2019 road traffic accident in Romford, where he crashed into a property and fled the scene. This earned him a £200 fine.
A September 20 misconduct hearing revealed that Pattwal would have been fired if he hadn’t already quit the force. He has now been added to the College of Policing Barred List, barring him from future police jobs.
Public Safety Concerns Raised
This case has ignited fierce public debate over the conduct of serving officers and the dangers of drink-driving — particularly when law enforcers break the rules themselves. The Met is under intense pressure to tighten up and rebuild trust after this shocking breach of duty.
