A former Metropolitan Police officer has been sentenced to 10 months in jail for stealing £1,500 from a safe at Stoke Newington Police Station while he was serving there.

Bradley Francis, who was stationed in the Central East Command Unit, was arrested at his home in Hertfordshire in May after stealing the money to pay off his credit card debts. His debts were payed off 30 minutes after the theft the previous month.

Francis, 35, pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates Court in September, and was sentenced by Mr Justice Griffith in Southwark Crown Court on November 7. He has been

Judge Griffith said: “The public have to have confidence that the police will apply the law to themselves and not consider themselves above the law … The public should have absolute faith and trust in their police officers and … I’m afraid you have let that down.”  

He added it was a “ridiculous way out of [Francis’] financial affairs” considering his track record as a respected officer.  

John Greany, Francis’ lawyer, said Francis had been a “well-regarded officer” but his good name and career have now been lost. He added that the act was “stupid and desperate” as it could have been avoided if Francis asked for help with his finances.  

Prosecuting lawyer Gregor McKinley said the theft was carried out with “some degree of planning” in April 2022.

CCTV footage showed Francis spending a long time at the safe as he tried to conceal the theft with his fleece.

Superintendent Mike Hamer, acting commander for policing in Tower Hamlets and Hackney, said after the hearing: “He has now rightly been held to account for his actions, which fell far below the standards I expect of my officers in the Central East Command Unit. Dishonesty within the Metropolitan Police Service will absolutely not be tolerated.”