On Thursday, a series of misconduct hearings were held for police officers who had tested positive for drugs. PC Nicola Mathews, stationed in Lambeth, underwent a ‘with cause’ drugs test in November 2023 and was found positive for cocaine. Another officer, PC David Burgess, was randomly selected for a drug test in the same month and tested positive for cannabis. Burgess claimed he unknowingly used a vape pen containing THC after a game of football with friends.

PC Daniel Brand also tested positive for cocaine in a with cause drugs test conducted in August 2023. Similarly, PC Michael Jules, from the Serious Investigation Unit, tested positive for cannabis in a drug test taken in November 2023.

Following investigations, all four officers were found to have violated professional standards of conduct, leading to charges of gross misconduct. As a result, PC Burgess, PC Brand, and PC Jules were dismissed immediately. PC Mathews had already resigned, but the Metropolitan Police stated she would have been dismissed without notice if still employed.