Police officer from Barkingside sacked after refusing to give breath sample following car crash

A police officer has been sacked after failing a roadside breath test after he crashed into a parked car.

Rajinder Chana, 27, of Greenleafe Drive, Barkingside, was later convicted of failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis after he failed to provide further specimens at Ilford police station.

The dismissal comes after an Essex Police disciplinary hearing last week following the crash in Woodville Gardens, Barkingside, in the early hours of Sunday, March 1.

Chana, who had been a police officer for more than seven years and worked in Harlow, was off-duty when he crashed his BMW 3 Series into a parked car.

He was charged later the same day and appeared at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Friday, March 27, where he pleaded guilty.

He received a 16-month driving ban and was ordered to pay £85 in court costs.

Chana, who failed to attend last week’s disciplinary hearing, was sacked with immediate effect following the hearing.

Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh said: “There is no place in Essex Police for officers who break the law. His levels of intoxication and his refusal to provide a specimen would alone bring discredit to the police service but he made the situation worse by behaving in a way that lacked basic standards of respect and courtesy.

“I find it hugely disappointing that an Essex Police officer would have behaved in this way. This officer has let both his colleagues and the people of Essex down.”

Insp Paul Wells, of the Essex Police professional standards department, said: “It was clear from the outset that Chana’s offending behaviour and aggressive approach had the potential to substantially undermine Essex Police to the public and to our policing neighbours, the Met.

“This is why it is really important that he was dismissed at the earliest opportunity.”