Met commander accused of drug use asks panel hearing case to stand down

Lawyer for Julian Bennett files recusal application against three-person panel after it refused to dismiss case

A senior Metropolitan police commander who is facing misconduct proceedings over his alleged drug use has called for the members of the hearing panel to remove themselves from the case due to alleged bias.

Julian Bennett - who has previously chaired misconduct hearings, wrote a drug testing strategy for the Met and oversaw the dismissal of two officers for drug misuse - is facing three allegations of discreditable conduct.