Cop who mowed down and killed Scots scientist at 61mph booted off force over ‘gross misconduct’

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Metropolitan Police officer who knocked down and killed a pedestrian while driving without his blue lights and sirens has been banned from policing.

Daniel Francis was going three times the speed limit after a firework incident in November 2019 when he collided with earth scientist Andrew MacIntyre Brown.

The 23-year-old, from Glasgow, was knocked down as he tried to cross the road in west London when he was hit at around 61mph.

An investigation by the police watchdog found gross misconduct allegations were proven against Francis and he has been dismissed without notice.The 33-year-old was also placed on the police barred list following the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) hearing on Wednesday.Francis had admitted causing the death of Mr Brown by careless driving and was sentenced at the Old Bailey to 12 months suspended for two years in February.He had been working late with two colleagues in a marked incident response vehicle in Whitton Road, Hounslow, when a firework was thrown from a vehicle.A Peugeot car, being driven by Francis, accelerated after the Nissan and attempted to close the gap and identify the registration number.The vehicle reached speeds of up to 61mph in a 20mph zone, and Francis made a decision not to activate his blue lights and sirens as he followed the suspect vehicle.Mr Brown, originally from Glasgow, and another person were on a marked illuminated pedestrian crossing, causing Francis to brake and swerve.The Daily Record and Sunday Mail have always been at the forefront when it comes to reporting crime in Scotland.But did you know all the ways you can stay informed of the top crime and courts headlines?We share live crime news and exclusive court stories as well as features and