Serving officer dismissed without notice

A police constable, who is currently serving seven years in prison, has been dismissed without notice from the Metropolitan Police Service.

Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball chaired a special case hearing to consider if the conduct of PC Joseph Prasad breached the Met’s standards of professional behaviour in respect of discreditable conduct.

On 24 August 2017, PC Prasad, attached to Specialist Crime and Operations, was found guilty at Lewes Crown Court of perverting the course of justice and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and jailed for seven years.

PC Prasad and a female colleague were arrested on 7 June 2016 in Romford after police received an anonymous call about a man and woman reportedly dealing drugs at the location.

Both officers were off-duty at the time.

On being detained, PC Prasad picked up his colleague’s handbag on the premise of looking for her warrant card; however – he produced two packets containing white powder which he claimed he had found in the bag.

Forensic analysis showed that only PC Prasad’s DNA was on the packets. Both officers were subjected to drugs tests which returned negative results.

Further investigative work revealed that PC Prasad was in possession of two mobile phones. One of the phones had been used to make the anonymous call to police on 7 June 2016. Further analysis showed numbers linked to Prasad had made numerous anonymous calls over a two-month period to police, Crimestoppers and the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) giving false information in an attempt to get his colleague arrested.

Having considered all the evidence, AC Ball dismissed PC Prasad without notice on Friday, 26 January.