Former Det Con Sean Brierley of the Metropolitan Police was dismissed following incidents on July 2, 2025. Brierley went to Gravity Well Taproom in east London after being informed that a suspect at Leyton police station was unavailable for an interview.
During his two-hour stay at the bar, he ordered three glasses of white wine. CCTV footage later revealed that Brierley was “unsteady on his feet” and “staggering” when he returned to the police station.
Incident at Leyton Police Station
On February 12, a tribunal heard evidence regarding Brierley’s behavior. A custody sergeant testified that Brierley “smelt drunk”, and witnesses indicated that his speech was “slurred”. The panel, led by Cdr Katie Lilburn, concluded that his level of intoxication rendered him unfit to manage a prisoner in custody, which was the intended purpose of his visit to the station.
Welfare Concerns
Due to concerns about his condition, Brierley’s colleagues conducted a welfare check at his residence later that evening. They discovered him in a disoriented state, lying in bed and staring at the ceiling.
The ruling emphasized the gravity of Brierley’s intoxication and how it compromised his professional responsibilities. This incident ultimately led to his dismissal from the Metropolitan Police.
