Two sacked Metropolitan Police officers have been granted anonymity despite an ugly Soho bar brawl with members of the public.
The pair, referred to at a misconduct hearing as PCs X and Y, wrapped trouser belts around their wrists after being ejected from the venue in Greek Street on April 13 last year.
Officer X became the aggressor using his belt as a weapon and striking a reveller with it.
Officer Y tried to evade arrest by running away from police called to the West End scene to detain them, it was heard.
PC Y was later arrested and bailed with conditions that he should not enter Westminster.
But on June 30, he “deliberately” breached his police bail for a second time in two months, claiming he was concerned a friend living in the borough might be attempting suicide.
PC Y was then “unhelpful and obstructive” to colleagues who turned up, refusing to give any explanation for his presence at the address and did not identify himself. It is not known if PC X was arrested or if either faced court.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, who chaired the disciplinary hearing last Friday, said both officers’ conduct was “blatant lawlessness”.
Scotland Yard was approached for further comment as to why the officers are allowed to keep their anonymity.
They were found to have breached standards of professional behaviour, namely discreditable conduct, to a level that was gross misconduct and dismissed without notice.
Mr Taylor said of Officer Y: “The public would have their confidence undermined if they knew a police officer is knowingly running from police and breaching police bail imposed by his own colleagues.
“This was the second time he breached the bail, and he did so knowing he was in breach of it.”
Both officers were placed on the College of Policing barred list meaning they cannot be employed by any force, the Independent Office for Police Conduct or His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.
