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A Metropolitan Police officer has been sacked after testing positive for cannabis use.

PC Lee Colbridge, of the Central North Command Unit, was found guilty of gross misconduct at a special hearing on Monday.

The panel heard how Colbridge was found to be three times over the European standard for safe workplace levels when tested in November.

The officer had not come forward about his use of the class B drug until he was about to be tested.

The hearing concluded he was unfit to work and the appropriate sanction was “dismissal without notice”.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said: “We set a high standard for integrity to both secure public confidence and to ensure officers are able to play their part in the criminal justice system as witnesses of truth.

“I also note we have a substance misuse policy that recognises welfare issues and supports self-disclosers. The officer did not self-disclose until he was about to be tested."

He added: “The breach of standards is so serious he cannot remain an officer despite his good history.”