Crackdown on the drink-drive police

Scotland Yard is to take a tougher line on police officers who have been caught drink-driving.

One officer found to be three times over the limit was merely docked 13 days' pay. Only a third of officers face dismissal.

The Government and the London Police Authority expect that any officer caught drink-driving should be sacked unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Now senior officers who sit on misconduct boards are being told to take a harder line on offenders.

They are concerned those facing the sack are getting lighter punishment after citing-previous cases which have been handled more leniently and that the force has been breaking Home Office guidelines.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stephen Roberts has written to senior officers saying that guidelines on sacking drink-driving officers are meant to be "a reflection of the serious view that is taken both by the service and society about offences of this nature."

In future officers caught drink driving will almost certainly been dismissed.