A Metropolitan Police officer, PC Gurbaksh Pattwal, 29, from Hornchurch, has been found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol, with levels more than double the legal limit. The officer was arrested on two separate occasions earlier this year for driving erratically while intoxicated.
PC Pattwal was first arrested on February 25, when he was pulled over in Romford on suspicion of driving under the influence. After two breath tests confirmed he was above the legal limit, a Met Police misconduct report revealed that he was not charged with a criminal offence at the time due to the policies of the Metropolitan Police Service and the Crown Prosecution Service. Despite this, it was proven he was driving with an alcohol level over the legal limit.
Just under three months later, on May 18, PC Pattwal was arrested again following reports from a member of the public that he was driving erratically on the M25 and had endangered a motorcyclist. According to the misconduct report, Pattwal hit the motorcyclist and the curb while driving under the influence. “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,” the report stated.
PC Pattwal was pulled over in Burntwood Avenue, Hornchurch, where he failed a roadside breathalyser test. A subsequent blood test in custody revealed he had 176 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, more than double the legal limit.
On July 15, PC Pattwal pleaded guilty to drink driving at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and was sentenced to a three-month community order, including a curfew with electronic tag monitoring. He was also disqualified from driving for 18 months.
In addition to the drunk driving charge, PC Pattwal pleaded guilty to failing to report a road traffic accident. This incident dates back to July 14, 2019, when he lost control of his vehicle in South Street, Romford, and collided with the side of a property. He fled the scene without reporting the accident and was subsequently fined £200.
A misconduct hearing on September 20 concluded that PC Pattwal would have been dismissed from the Metropolitan Police had he not already left the force. He has also been added to the College of Policing Barred List, effectively barring him from future employment within policing.
This case has raised significant concerns about the behaviour of serving officers and the impact of drink driving on public safety.
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