Police commander Julian Bennett who wrote anti-drugs strategy ‘smoked cannabis before breakfast’

A senior police officer who wrote an anti-drugs strategy for the Metropolitan Police allegedly took LSD and magic mushrooms whereas off responsibility and smoked cannabis every day, a tribunal has heard.

Commander Julian Bennett, who has served within the power since 1976, is alleged to have smoked cannabis before breakfast and had common events at his flat in 2019.

He’s additionally accused of failing to offer a urine pattern for testing and mendacity about why he had not carried out so.

Mark Ley-Morgan KC, representing the Metropolitan Police, informed the tribunal in Southwark, south London: “In about mid-October 2019 Sheila Gomes moved into the officer’s flat, staying till about Christmas 2019.

“Between November 27 and 10 December 2019, she despatched [her friend] Mario a WhatsApp message wherein she referred to Commander Bennett … smoking cannabis on the flat.

“Shortly before 10am on 7 December 2019, she used her cell phone to take images of a bag of cannabis, cigarette paper, tobacco and lighters mendacity on a glass desk within the flat front room.

“She moved out simply before Christmas that 12 months.

“On 17 July 2020, she telephoned the Metropolitan Police to document that Commander Bennett had been smoking cannabis before work.”

Ms Gomes informed the listening to underneath questioning from Mr Ley-Morgan: “It will begin early within the morning, before breakfast and before he would depart and go to work.

“Generally when he was arriving at residence it was there. I by no means noticed him eat before going to work.”

She mentioned she believed he was a lawyer reasonably than a senior police officer till after she stopped dwelling with him.

Ms Gomes added that she had by no means seen him in uniform.

The nurse went on: “I didn’t prefer it in any respect. Why did I’ve to reside in a spot the place it was simply cannabis within the air, I used to be simply making an attempt to breathe oxygen.

“He [the officer] was the one who was utilizing the cannabis, I’ll say a couple of occasions throughout the day he would carry it in.

“If he would go to work [he would do it] at the least before going to work and arriving at residence.”

Mr Ley-Morgan mentioned a medication take a look at was authorised on 20 July 2020, and a day later, within the presence of an assistant commissioner, Mr Bennett was requested to offer a pattern.

It was “made clear” the order to present a pattern was a lawful order however Mr Bennett refused and mentioned he would resign, the tribunal heard.

He informed officers he had been taking CBD (cannabidiol) to deal with facial palsy and was nervous the pattern would come up constructive for an harmless purpose, the tribunal heard.

The listening to was informed the allegations about magic mushrooms and LSD are “rumour” that Ms Gomes was informed by a housemate of hers and the officers.

Mr Ley-Morgan mentioned Mr Bennett’s rationalization for not offering a pattern was “nonsensical” as it might have provide you with a a lot decrease studying if it was not getting used recreationally.

Mr Bennett wrote the power’s medication strategy for 2017-21 as a commander for territorial policing.

The doc, referred to as Dealing With The Affect Of Medicine On Communities, arrange plans to boost “consciousness of the influence of drug misuse”.

Freedom of knowledge requests confirmed Mr Bennett presided over 74 police misconduct hearings involving 90 officers between June 2010 and February 2012.

Out of the hearings involving Mr Bennett, 56 officers had been dismissed – greater than three-quarters.

He chaired 69 hearings throughout that point and two officers had been dismissed for medication misuse, the figures confirmed.

Mr Bennett is accused of breaching the power’s skilled requirements for discreditable conduct 3 times, honesty and integrity twice and orders and directions as soon as.

His actions are alleged to have amounted to gross misconduct.

He denies the allegations and has been suspended on full pay since July 2021.

The tribunal continues.