Metropolitan Police Officer Caught Driving Drunk on M25 Highway
A shocking incident involving a Metropolitan Police officer has come to light, revealing a disturbing case of reckless behavior on the roads. PC Gurbaksh Pattwal, a 29-year-old officer from Hornchurch, was found to be more than double the legal alcohol limit while driving erratically on the M25 highway.
The first instance of PC Pattwal’s dangerous behavior occurred on February 25 when he was arrested on suspicion of driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. It was reported that he was pulled over in Romford, where two breath tests confirmed that he was indeed above the legal alcohol limit.
Despite being caught driving while intoxicated, PC Pattwal was not charged with a criminal offense due to Metropolitan Police Service and Crown Prosecution Service policies. However, the incident raised serious concerns about the behavior of a serving police officer.
Less than three months later, on May 18, PC Pattwal was arrested again after a member of the public reported his erratic driving on the M25, which put a motorcyclist in danger. The misconduct report highlighted the severity of the situation, stating that PC Pattwal’s actions could have resulted in far more damage.
During the second arrest, PC Pattwal was pulled over in Burntwood Avenue, Hornchurch, where he failed a roadside breathalyzer test. Subsequent blood tests revealed that his alcohol level was 176 milligrams in 100 milliliters of blood, surpassing the legal limit by a significant margin.
In a court appearance on July 15, PC Pattwal pleaded guilty to drink driving and was handed a three-month community order with a curfew enforced by electronic tag monitoring. Additionally, he was disqualified from driving for 18 months, highlighting the serious consequences of his actions on the road.
On the same day, PC Pattwal also admitted to failing to report a road traffic accident that occurred on July 14, 2019. He had lost control of a vehicle in South Street, Romford, colliding with and damaging a property before leaving the scene without reporting the incident. For this offense, he was fined £200.
Following these disturbing incidents, a misconduct hearing on September 20 determined that PC Pattwal would have been dismissed from the force if he had not already left. Furthermore, he was added to the College of Policing Barred List, marking the end of his career in law enforcement.
The case of PC Gurbaksh Pattwal serves as a stark reminder of the importance of upholding standards of conduct and responsibility, especially for those entrusted with ensuring public safety. It raises questions about the accountability of law enforcement officers and the consequences of their actions when they breach the law they are sworn to uphold.