A high-ranking Metropolitan Police officer once fired for refusing a drug test but later reinstated on appeal, now faces another misconduct hearing after being suspended once again.
Commander Julian Bennett, the architect behind the Met’s 2017-2021 drugs strategy, initially failed to provide a urine sample during a drug test in July 2020.
Although his dismissal was overturned by a Police Appeals Tribunal earlier this year, the Met announced on Monday that he’s been suspended pending a fresh hearing.
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist expressed frustration with the ongoing case, stating, “We regret that the tribunal’s decision further prolongs this very long-running case.”
Despite his reinstatement, Commander Bennett will remain suspended until the new hearing, which will be overseen by an independent, legally qualified chair.
The public and Bennett’s colleagues, already weary of the drawn-out saga, are eager for a swift resolution. “We are doing all we can to support the hearing taking place as quickly as possible,” said Twist.
Cannabis Allegations and Legal Battles
Commander Bennett, a member of the force since 1976, initially faced dismissal for gross misconduct after failing to provide a drug test sample in July 2020.
Adding intrigue to the situation, Bennett’s former flatmate, Sheila Gomes, alleged that he consumed cannabis daily before breakfast—claims which were ultimately dismissed in October last year.
The disciplinary panel concluded that Bennett had violated professional standards by refusing the test, though he argued the test might yield a positive result due to his use of CBD oil for facial palsy.
Despite his offer to resign on the spot and seek a meeting with then-Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick, his case has continued to evolve.
Commander Bennett had previously chaired misconduct panels, presiding over 74 hearings between 2010 and 2012. Of those cases, 56 officers were dismissed, including two for drug misuse—an irony not lost on his current predicament.
The Met, now caught in a web of legal entanglements, looks to move forward swiftly.
Yet, for a police force tasked with upholding standards, the question remains: can Bennett’s story ever reach a resolution that satisfies both the public and his peers?
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