An entire neighbourhood policing team was axed after officers went jogging and watched ?
An entire south London neighbourhood policing team has been axed after an internal investigation found some of the officers had been playing backgammon and poker, watching television and cleaning golf clubs while on duty.
Seven officers in total resigned or were dismissed from the Safer Neighbourhood Team in the Mottingham and Chislehurst North ward in Bromley, south-east London.
The disciplinary action followed an undercover operation by the Metropolitan Police Service's (MPS) Directorate of Professional Standards in 2010.
One sergeant and a Pc were sacked after the Met's disciplinary panel found them guilty of gross misconduct. Another Pc and three of the team's community support officers resigned, while a fourth was dismissed.
Three of the officers were also charged with criminal offences as well as police misconduct.
In a statement, the Met said: "The disciplinary panel heard evidence that officers from the team had played backgammon and poker whilst on duty, watched TV in the office, frequently failed to go out on patrol, had not worked full tours of duty and also claimed overtime that had not been worked.
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