An entire south London neighbourhood policing team has resigned or been fired after an internal probe found officers had been playing poker, watching television and cleaning golf clubs while on duty.
The work-shy group failed to work full shifts and claimed non-existent overtime as well as engaging in the non-work activities, an investigation into the Mottingham and Chislehurst North ward in Bromley, south-east London, found.
Four police officers were sacked, including a sergeant, while three more resigned in the wake of the undercover investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Directorate of Professional Standards, carried out in 2010.
“The disciplinary panel heard evidence that officers from the team had played backgammon and poker whilst on duty, watched TV in the office, frequently failed to go out on patrol, had not worked full tours of duty and also claimed overtime that had not been worked,” the Met said in a statement.
“In addition, one officer had gone out for runs during the working day whilst a further officer cleaned his golf clubs in the office. These activities appear to have taken place at the expense of policing duties, such as patrolling the local area.”
The Safer Neighbourhood teams were introduced in 2004 and are dedicated to particular areas, aiming to work with residents to identify local issues like anti-social behaviour or criminal damage.
There are more than 630 of the teams in London made up of about 4,100 police officers and community support officers.
Commander Allan Gibson, head of the Directorate of Professional Standards, said: “These officers let the whole of the service down with their behaviour; but more importantly they let down their local community.
“There is no place for lazy attitudes in the MPS and those who are found to be failing in their duties will be held to account.”
'Lazy' police team axed after on-duty poker
