30th May, 2024
The Metropolitan Police have sacked a detective Andrew Hardy without notice following an accelerated misconduct hearing.
Hardy, attached to the Met’s Central Specialist Crime Command, was found to have breached the standards of orders and instructions, honesty and integrity and discreditable conduct at the hearing on Thursday, 30 May.
The police said on 23 March, 2023, while off duty, Hardy drove an unmarked police vehicle without authorisation and was involved in a collision causing damage to multiple vehicles.
The police added that between 1 October, 2022 and 19 March, 2023, Hardy drove a police vehicle while off duty on 240 occasions, travelling a total of 3,883.7 miles, saying he was not authorised to use the vehicle, and materially gained from doing so.
The Met Police further said between 1 March, 2023 and 23 March, 2023, Hardy drove at excessive speeds while using a police vehicle off duty, saying he was not authorised to use the vehicle, nor did he have a policing purpose to use the vehicle and drive in such a manner.
According to the police, he also failed to keep a proper record of his journeys in the log book assigned to the police vehicle, adding that the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards was informed and an investigation was launched, which led to Hardy being placed on restricted duties.
Commander Stephen Clayman leading the Specialist Crime Command said Hardy made personal use of a vehicle that was meant for use in the pursuit of policing operations and public safety.
Clayman said his actions fall far below the high standard that the public expect from the police, noting that he has let down his colleagues and it is completely unacceptable that he damaged the property of others through his reckless actions.
“He has rightly been held to account for his behaviour and dismissed without notice,” Clayman said.
The police said Hardy would now be added to the Barred List held by the College of Policing.
Those appearing on the list cannot be employed by police, local policing bodies (PCCs), the Independent Office for Police Conduct or His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.