London PCSOs sacked over brothel visit while on duty Published duration 28 April 2011

Four Metropolitan Police community support officers have left the force after being caught visiting a brothel in central London while on duty.

It is claimed the men abandoned their duties to visit the business in Soho.

They were found drinking tea with the owner after apparently enquiring after an Eastern European woman.

Three of the men were sacked following a gross misconduct hearing earlier this month and a fourth resigned shortly after the incident last October.

Passing sergeant

It is understood the former officers were supposed to be patrolling in Soho when they visited the establishment a few doors away from their office.

They were found inside the premises after a passing sergeant saw them walk into the brothel and followed them inside to investigate.

The Metropolitan Police Service (Met) misconduct hearing found the three men, aged 23, 28 and 38, had failed to comply with an order and behaved in a way likely to bring the service into disrepute.

The three men dismissed and the 31-year-old who resigned were all based at Belgravia police station.

A Met statement said any occasion where its staff brought the force into disrepute would be taken extremely seriously.