Suspended Met officer spent five years on full pay

Metropolitan Police officer Cdr Julian Bennett, who was suspended since July 2020 for refusing a drugs test, was on full pay during a five-year disciplinary process leading to his dismissal for gross misconduct. The Met expressed dismay at the waste of public funds and emphasized the need for faster misconduct hearings for irrefutable cases. The officer's case involved accusations of drug use, refusal to cooperate, and breaches of professional standards, leading to his removal and placement on the College of Policing's barred list.