A Zimbabwean has been dismissed from the police force in the UK after he was convicted of drink driving. BBC reports that Taurayi Cham...
A Zimbabwean has been dismissed from the police force in
the UK after he was convicted of drink driving.
BBC reports that Taurayi Chamboko, a police sergeant of Bedfordshire Police
was stopped by officers after overtaking an unmarked police car "in poor
driving conditions" on 9 November, a misconduct panel heard.
He "immediately" produced his warrant card and
later "feigned illness" to avoid producing a urine sample.
His actions were found to amount to gross misconduct. Chief
Constable Jon Boutcher said he "could not be more disappointed" by Mr
Chamboko's behaviour.
"You overtook two cars at high speed in poor driving
conditions and when stopped you produced your warrant card immediately. I have
absolutely no doubt you tried to avoid the police process that day."
Mr Boutcher said the police sergeant "tried to
frustrate officers" when he was stopped at 22:30 GMT and it took five
attempts before Mr Chamboko provided a road-side breath test sample.
It gave a reading of 58 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of
breath - the legal limit is 35 micrograms. At the police station, Mr Chamboko
was found "slumped in his cell" and "did not co-operate with
questions asked".
He was taken to hospital and did not provide a further
sample until 04:30 - which also came back as over the limit.
Chamboko said he was "terribly sorry" for his
actions and blamed his behaviour on dealing with grief after the deaths of
three close relatives. Jim Mallen from the Police Federation said the police
sergeant was also affected by "work-related stress".
Chamboko said he visited a friend and drank cognac from
10:00-13:00 before sleeping for nine hours. He had 16 years' police service and
was described by his colleagues as "dedicated, hardworking and
committed".
As he dismissed Mr Chamboko without notice, Mr Boutcher
said: "It is a great sadness that an officer of your standard is lost to
policing."
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