Westminster Bridge hero barred from policing over ‘inappropriate relationship’ with colleague

The first police officer to respond to the Westminster Bridge terror attack has been barred from policing after asking a subordinate for Viagra and lying about time-off.

Former detective sergeant Gary Waite was found to have an “inappropriate relationship” with detective Pervaz Malik, who was also dismissed earlier this year for organising sex workers and facilitating the supply of class A drugs.

Waite, who had won awards and commendations for his work, resigned from the Metropolitan Police in March 2026 ahead of his gross misconduct proceedings.

In the findings, which were published last week, Waite was found to have “dishonestly represented” that Malik was on duty on nine separate occasions between June 2022 and July 2023.

He also asked Malik, who is not named in the police report but was named by the police watchdog, to supply him with Viagra and received some from him.

In messages published as part of the proceedings, Malik asked “can I pls have leave during this month pretty please” and Waite replied “Whatever you need brother xx”.

Malik went on to ask for the days, with the offer “plus 4 blue” which he offered to “bring in”, which the misconduct panel determined were references to Viagra.

Initially, the former sergeant denied ever receiving Viagra from Malik, before later saying he thought it “would improve my intimacy with my wife”.

The hearing outcome reads: “The conduct was intentional and deliberate in that he booked [Malik] as being on duty when he knew he was not, in some instances when he was out of the country.

“The officer was holding a position of trust and responsibility at a higher level given his rank and had a supervisory role. It is clear from the evidence that the nature of the relationship between the officer and his supervisee was inappropriate.

“It was the officer’s duty to supervise [Malik], however given the inappropriate messages about Viagra and the whole tenor of messages showed an inappropriate and over-familiar relationship which the public would not expect a supervisor in the police to have with a junior member of staff.”

The panel also said: “The officer was commended for his work as the first officer on the scene during the terror attack on Westminster Bridge.

“He has won awards and has been commended for his work. Further, the panel recognised that the character references and statements speak highly of the officer.”

Five people were killed and more than 50 were injured when Khalid Masood ploughed his car into crowds of people on Westminster Bridge on 22 March 2017.

The misconduct panel only attached “limited weight” to Waite’s career and determined that if he had not already resigned, he would have been dismissed without notice.

He would also have been placed on the College of Policing’s barred list.

Waite, who did not attend the hearing, was found to have committed operational dishonesty intentionally and deliberately.

The Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) noted that Waite was arrested in March 2024 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, but no further action was taken.

Malik was arrested in August 2023 on suspicion of conspiracy to supply control drugs and was referred to the CPS, but no further action was taken against him either.

Following Waite’s hearing this summer, IOPC director of engagement Amanda Rowe said: “DS Waite abused his position and power as a supervisor to dishonestly represent DC Malik, who he had a close friendship with, on and off duty multiple times, knowing he was out of the country.

“DS Waite’s lies gave DC Malik time away from work at the expense of the Met and to the gross disadvantage of other members of his team.

“Both officers have now been held accountable for their actions and will rightly never work in policing again following this detailed and complex investigation.”