A Police officer allegedly caught smoking cannabis on duty was sacked yesterday following a disciplinary hearing.

But Police Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay said the officer will escape criminal trial because the Director of Public Prosecutions feels there is insufficient evidence.

Mr. Lemay said the Constable was told yesterday morning he had been dismissed with immediate effect.

A seven-week disciplinary hearing chaired by Acting Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Smith recommended the officer be sacked. Mr. Lemay could have rejected the recommendation, but has upheld it.

The officer, who has not been named by Police in accordance with disciplinary hearing protocol, has seven days to launch an appeal against the decision to the Public Services Commission.

The motorcycle officer was arrested on February 13 after he was reportedly seen smoking cannabis in a private car while watching a football match in White Hill Fields, Sandys.

Mr. Lemay would not confirm reports that the sacked officer was moved to traffic duties last year after failing a drugs test while playing football.

He said: "Discharging employees for failing to adhere to the standards of conduct set by an organisation is often difficult and never pleasant.

"The severe consequences to the discharged employee and the disruption that it causes within the organisation are good reasons to use this step only as a last resort.

Officer sacked "My review confirms that all disciplinary proceedings were correctly carried out in accordance with regulations and orders for the service and thus imposed the recommendations for dismissal.'' Mr. Lemay added that he would be asking for higher standards to be applied to his officers when Government's drug testing policy for civil servants is introduced in January.

"We believe that we must go a step beyond what is called for in that policy and are looking to introduce an addendum to the Government's policy that takes into account our role as an essential service and will hold our personnel to higher standards.'' DRUGS DGS