Police sergeant barred after failing drug test

A former West Yorkshire Police sergeant who tested positive for cocaine has been barred from the profession.

An accelerated misconduct hearing was told Andrew Haveron failed a drug test on 16 December, while a serving officer, and text messages found on his phone suggested he had obtained drugs from a dealer.

The panel concluded his actions had amounted to gross misconduct and would have resulted in his dismissal from the force had he not already resigned.

Mr Haveron, who worked in Bradford in patrol and neighbourhood policing roles, had been an officer since 2008.

Before becoming a constable, he worked as a police community support officer from 2003.

Mr Haveron chose not to attend the misconduct hearing on 26 February.

The panel heard he had not provided an explanation for the positive drug test and had replied "no comment" when interviewed.

No mitigating factors were advanced and he did not challenge or dispute the evidence against him.

In a written decision, the panel said that, given his role as a sergeant at the time, he should have been setting a positive example for his colleagues.

It said his conduct had been criminal in nature and could have led to a criminal prosecution.

"It is always unacceptable for officers to break the law rather than enforce it," the panel stated.

"The officer's willingness to use drugs contributed directly to the illicit supply of drugs in the community, which he was meant to be challenging not endorsing."

The former officer was placed on the College of Policing barred list.

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