By SCM REPORTER
A TOP-RANKING Met officer has been booted out of the force after he was caught playing a dangerous game of ‘make-believe’ behind the wheel of high-performance police cars.
Chief Inspector Andrew Du, a senior boss at the Met’s Central North Command, was sacked on the spot yesterday following a misconduct hearing that exposed his web of “reckless” lies.
The disgraced officer—who was meant to be a role model for the rank-and-file—treated London’s streets like a personal racetrack, despite having no more training than a Sunday driver.
The hearing heard how Du repeatedly jumped into marked “area cars”—the Met’s high-speed interceptors—and tore through the city with blue lights flashing and sirens wailing.
The problem? He was only cleared for “basic” driving, meaning he was strictly forbidden from hitting top speeds or using emergency signals.
To get his hands on the keys, the “Walter Mitty” cop lied through his teeth to colleagues and bosses, claiming he was a fully qualified pursuit driver.
But the deceit didn’t stop at the garage door. In a bid to beef up his tough-guy image, Du also boasted that he had served in the Met’s elite Firearms Command—the brave units that face down terrorists and gunmen.
In reality, he had never spent a single second in the specialist unit.
Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart, who led the unit where Du was based, blasted the officer for his “discreditable” behavior.
”Londoners need to be able to trust that officers are qualified to carry out their roles safely,” Supt Stewart said. “Leaders in the Met must uphold the highest standards and lead by example.”
The disciplinary panel ruled that Du’s actions amounted to gross misconduct, finding him guilty of breaching professional standards for honesty, integrity, and following orders.
Along with losing his job, Du has been added to the College of Policing’s “Barred List,” ensuring he can never wear a uniform or work in law enforcement again.
