An entire neighbourhood policing team has been dismissed after they were disocoverd playing poker during working hours. The group, from Bromley in south-east London, were discover after an undercover operation in 2010 by the Metropolitan Police Service's Directorate of Professional Standards.
The Metropolitan Police said the following in a statement: "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. 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."
Commander Allan Gibson, head of the MPS 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."