Firearms officer drove to work over alcohol limit
ONRA nuclear officer drove to work while over the drink-drive limit and tried to collect a firearm at "one of the country's most sensitive assets", a misconduct panel has heard.
Lee Brennan reported for duty at the Sellafield nuclear plant in Cumbria last October and was breathalysed after a colleague smelled alcohol on him.
A Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) misconduct hearing was told Brennan later admitted drink driving at Workington Magistrates' Court and was banned for 12 months and fined £120.
The misconduct panel ruled that he would have been dismissed if still serving. A CNC spokesperson said: "This was a clear breach of conduct and professional standards."
The misconduct panel was told CCTV footage showed Brennan driving to Sellafield at about 06:00 on 17 October.
The site, which stores highly hazardous radioactive waste, is the biggest nuclear plant in Europe.
'Particularly harmful behaviour'
Brennan reported to the armoury to sign out a weapon to start duty, but was stopped by a colleague and was arrested after he was breathalysed.
When he was taken to Workington police station, he was found to have 41 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath.
The legal limit to drive is 35 micrograms.
A report published by CNC following the misconduct hearing said his behaviour had discredited the police service and undermined public confidence in it.
It said: "He presented at an armoury to collect a firearm with the intention to sign out a weapon and embark on a tour of duty to protect one of the country's most sensitive assets when under the influence of alcohol.
"The panel is in no doubt that this is so serious as to constitute gross misconduct."
The Authorised Firearms Officer (AFO) resigned from his job on 21 November, three days before his court appearance.
The CNC report said he was not present at the misconduct hearing this month and the case was heard in his absence.
The panel said Brennan's misconduct was "particularly harmful to the reputation of the CNC" because of its role to protect "some of the nation's most sensitive assets".
It said: "It is completely unacceptable and harmful to public confidence for a CNC AFO to drive to and report for duty when over the limit for alcohol."
A CNC spokesman said: "Following his conviction at court, a misconduct hearing was held and has ruled that his conduct fell short of the high standards that the police service requires.
"Had he not already resigned from the CNC, the panel ruled that he would have been dismissed if still serving."
