Metropolitan Police Sergeant Dismissed After Drunk Driving Incident on Embassy Duty
A sergeant responsible for supervising protection at the Iranian embassy in Knightsbridge, Central London, has been dismissed from the Metropolitan Police without notice after arriving for duty under the influence of alcohol. Police Sergeant Paul Barrett was found to have committed gross misconduct following an incident on March 1, where he was suspected of consuming alcohol before or during his shift, which involved driving a vehicle.
Breath Test Exceeds Legal and Police Limits
A breath test administered to Sgt Barrett revealed a reading of 46 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. This not only exceeded the criminal driving limit of 35 microgrammes but was also well over the strict limit for police officers on duty, which is set at just 13 microgrammes. According to a misconduct hearing report, Sgt Barrett pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates' Court on March 16 to driving with excess alcohol, resulting in a £700 fine and a 14-month driving disqualification.
High-Profile Security Role Compromised
The report detailed that Sgt Barrett's duties involved supervising augmented security at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, part of the Met's Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command (PaDP). As the supervising sergeant, he was required to drive between embassies to ensure posts were covered and officers remained alert. On March 1, two officers on foot patrol observed that Sgt Barrett smelled of alcohol. When challenged, he became defensive and refused to engage further, leading to concerns being escalated up the chain of command and his immediate removal from duty.
Gross Misconduct Findings and Consequences
Commander Jason Prins, chairman of the misconduct hearing, stated that Sgt Barrett was not fit to carry out his responsibilities. He emphasized that attending a shift with excess alcohol is unacceptable, particularly when driving is required and the alcohol level made it illegal. Prins noted that this conduct occurred in a high-profile, sensitive, and stressful protection post, discrediting both Sgt Barrett and the police, and likely to seriously damage public confidence.
The report acknowledged that this was a single, short incident of misconduct within many years of service, and seven character references spoke glowingly of Sgt Barrett's character and service. However, the severity of the breach led to his dismissal, underscoring the Met's commitment to professional standards in critical security roles.
