Drug Test Refusal Costs Met Officer His Job—Five Years and Full Pay Later

Posted June 2025 • Drug Test Digest Team

It’s the kind of story that makes both taxpayers and HR managers wince: A senior London police officer who refused a drug test back in 2020 has finally been fired — after nearly five years on full pay.

Commander Julian Bennett, who ironically authored the Metropolitan Police’s 2017 drug strategy, has officially been dismissed from the force after a misconduct panel found him guilty of gross misconduct. What kicked it all off? He wouldn’t provide a urine sample.

From Strategy Writer to Policy Violator

Back in July 2020, Cdr Bennett declined to comply with a lawful order to take a drug test. He later explained that he’d been taking CBD for facial palsy and feared a false positive. Fair concern or not, refusing a test is a disciplinary offense—especially when you’re the guy who helped write the policy.

At the first misconduct hearing in 2023, additional allegations — including that he smoked cannabis daily — were not proven. But his refusal alone was enough to get him fired. Or so it seemed.

The Appeals Saga

Bennett appealed to the Police Appeals Tribunal (PAT), which ruled that the initial panel had overreached by ruling on allegations they hadn’t been asked to. The result: dismissal overturned. Cue round two.

This week, after a second misconduct hearing, Bennett was once again fired — this time with no loose ends. He’ll now appear on the College of Policing’s barred list, meaning he’s no longer eligible for police employment in the UK.

“Utter Waste of Public Funds”

Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist called the drawn-out process “an utter waste of public funds” and said it was “enormously concerning” that it took almost five years to reach a final decision. He emphasized the need for more accelerated hearings in clear-cut cases like this one.

“Cdr Bennett has never disputed he refused a lawful order,” Twist said. “This should have been a simple matter.”

The delay, critics say, isn’t just a bureaucratic failure — it’s a hit to public trust. After all, accountability loses its edge when it takes half a decade to show up.

Read the full story on BBC News.