Police are investigating the incident

FOR many, getting a cup of coffee in the morning is an essential. But is it ever an emergency?

An investigation has been launched by the Met’s Professional Standards Unit after a cyclist filed a complaint over allegations a police van used emergency procedures – often referred to as blues and twos – to deliver a cup of coffee to a plain-clothed colleague.

On Sunday, August 27, the cyclist saw the police van “travelling at speed” in Pentonville Road in the direction of Angel, with its blue lights flashing and its two-tone siren wailing to alert people to make way for an emergency vehicle.

“I cycled behind the vehicle that pressed its horn as well as having the sirens and lights flashing while ushering people to hurry across a zebra crossing,” said Gordon McIntosh, before describing how the van then turned left into Penton Street and then right at Tolpuddle Street – where Islington police station is based.

“The vehicle seemed to park – as all police vehicles do, on double yellow lines – and the driver, a sergeant, reached over to pass a coffee to a plain-clothes officer who was waiting to collect the coffee,” he said.

“I asked the sergeant, who was joined by a constable, why he had used emergency procedures to deliver a coffee. He told me that they were en route to a murder.”

Mr McIntosh said if the claim was true, it “raises a series of questions” about why police who are on their way to a murder scene are delivering coffees.

If, he added, it was a lie – to cover up using such “reckless behaviour” to deliver a coffee – it “perpetuates” the poor perception held of police.

“As a police force, they are concurrently tarnished as being institutionally racist, misogynistic, homophobic and corrupt,” he said.

“It is omnipotent incidences such as this that perpetuate that reputation, least of all the illegality and potential danger to life posed by such reckless behaviour.”

A police spokeswoman said its Professional Standards Unit – made famous by shows such as Line of Duty – would be investigating the professional conduct of the officers involved.

She said: “The Metropolitan Police received a letter of complaint from a member of the public concerning alleged inappropriate use of emergency sirens and parking. The incident is reported to have taken place in the Borough of Islington.

“We are investigating the circumstances and have identified the driver. The investigation is being led by the Central North Professional Standards Unit.

“We are in contact with the complainant to reassure them about the actions that we are taking.”