Former Detective Constable Found Guilty of Gross Misconduct for On-Duty Drinking
A Metropolitan Police officer became so intoxicated that he could not walk straight after drinking wine whilst on duty at an East London bar, a misconduct panel has determined. Former detective constable Sean Brierley would have faced immediate dismissal for gross misconduct had he not already resigned from the force.
Incident Details and CCTV Evidence
The panel heard that on the evening of 2 July 2025, Brierley visited the Gravity Well Taproom in East London after learning that a suspect at Leyton police station was not yet ready for questioning. According to the ruling, bar CCTV footage captured the officer purchasing three glasses of white wine over a two-hour period while he was supposed to be on active duty.
Upon his return to Leyton Custody Centre later that evening, surveillance footage showed Mr Brierley appearing unsteady on his feet, staggering, and off balance. Evidence presented to the hearing on 12 February revealed that a custody sergeant reported Brierley had smelt drunk, with additional staff members noting his speech was noticeably slurred.
Panel Findings and Commander's Remarks
In her concluding remarks, panel chair Commander Katie Lilburn stated: The fact that the former officer was so intoxicated that he could not walk straight meant that he was unfit to deal with a prisoner in custody, which was the purpose of him being at the police station.
Commander Lilburn further emphasized that Brierley's actions were intentional, deliberate, and planned. She added: Being intoxicated whilst on duty in a police station and in a custody suite, with the attendant risks, is especially dangerous. The panel unanimously determined that his behaviour constituted gross misconduct warranting dismissal.
Welfare Visit and Aftermath
The panel was informed that colleagues grew sufficiently concerned about Brierley's condition that they organised a welfare visit to his residence later that night. Officers arriving around 12.20am found him lying in bed in boxer shorts with the duvet pulled off, appearing very disoriented and staring at the ceiling in a glazed manner.
According to the ruling, Brierley assured the officers he was fine but did not question their presence or make any effort to cover himself or sit upright in bed. This behaviour further demonstrated his impaired state following the on-duty drinking incident.
The misconduct panel's decision confirms that had Sean Brierley not already resigned from the Metropolitan Police, he would have been formally dismissed for his actions that compromised both his duties and public trust in the force.
