A police constable who drove both his own vehicle and a marked patrol car while over the drink-drive limit has been banned from the roads and barred from ever returning to the force.
Nils Rattan, who was serving with South Wales Police at the time, reported for duty at Ely police station in Cardiff at 5pm on 20 June after driving there in his own car. Shortly afterwards, he was tasked with collecting a colleague in a marked police vehicle.
Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan explained: “Shortly afterwards he was tasked to pick up a colleague who was on duty in the area. PC Rattan drove a marked police vehicle to do so and arrived back at the police station approximately 10 minutes after leaving.”
However, on his return, acting Sergeant Powderhill noticed that Rattan appeared dishevelled, sweating, with glazed eyes and smelling strongly of alcohol. When questioned, Rattan admitted he had consumed “a few vodkas” at around 1am earlier that morning.
A roadside breath test proved positive and Rattan was arrested. At Swansea Central police station he provided further samples, one of which showed 49 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath — well over the legal limit of 35.
Rattan was later charged with drink-driving in both his personal vehicle and a police car. He admitted the offences at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court, where he received a 36-month driving ban, a fine of £692, a victim services surcharge of £277, and prosecution costs of £85.
Before facing a misconduct hearing, Rattan resigned from the force and accepted that his behaviour amounted to gross misconduct. He admitted breaching standards of professional behaviour, including fitness for duty and discreditable conduct.
In a statement, he said: “I recognise that my actions on this day were wholly unacceptable, placed the public and my colleagues at risk, and caused serious harm to the reputation of South Wales Police. I accept that such conduct fundamentally undermines the trust and confidence expected of a police officer.”
Chief Constable Vaughan described Rattan’s actions as “premeditated” and “reprehensible”. He added: “It is unacceptable for police officers, who are responsible for enforcing the law, to break the law themselves. The behaviour could have caused serious harm to individuals and we should all be thankful that the significant driving impairment did not have very different consequences for others.
“It is compounded by the fact that he drove on two separate occasions while he was unfit and it was unlawful to do so. His behaviour continued after he realised, or should have realised, that it was improper.”
Rattan has since been placed on the barred list, preventing him from seeking future employment in policing.
