A police officer who was drunk when he crashed into a parked car has been sacked with immediate effect. 

Essex constable Rajinder Chana was off-duty on March 1 when his BMW 3 series hit the car in Woodville Gardens, Ilford, at around 3am. 

Police were called and Chana, from Ilford, was arrested for refusing to provide a roadside breath test and taken into custody, where he refused a second test. 

The 27 year-old, who was based within the safer neighbourhood team in Harlow, was charged later that day and appeared before Barkingside Magistrates Court on March 27.

He pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis. 

Chana received a 16-month driving ban and was ordered to pay costs.  

Essex Police Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh called for Chana to be sacked immediately.

A fast-tracked disciplinary hearing on Friday (May 1) officially dismissed him from the force. 

Chief Con Kavanagh said his behaviour has let the profession and the people of Essex down.

"There is no place in Essex Police for officers who break the law," he said.  

"His levels of intoxication and his refusal to provide a specimen would alone bring discredit to the police service but he made the situation worse by behaving in a way that lacked basic standards of respect and courtesy.

"I find it hugely disappointing that an Essex Police Officer would have behaved in this way.

"This officer has let both his colleagues and the people of Essex down.

"However, the public should be reassured that every day officers place their lives on the line to save others, stop crime and bring offenders to justice. This force has a huge amount to be proud of."

Inspector Paul Wells of the Essex Police Professional Standards Department, added: "It was clear from the outset that Chana’s offending behaviour and aggressive approach had the potential to substantially undermine Essex Police to the public and to our policing neighbours, the Metropolitan Police.

"This is why it is really important that he was dismissed at the earliest opportunity."