Gary Story

Introduction

Gary Story was a detective sergeant with Cumbria Police who was barred from ever serving as a police officer again after testing positive for cocaine at work. He was picked for a random drug test by the force’s anti-corruption unit in August and was found with benzoylecgonine, a product created in the system when the body breaks down cocaine, at six times the acceptable limit. A misconduct panel ruled he would have been dismissed had he not resigned days before the hearing. Story did not attend the hearing but fully admitted the case, was found to have committed gross misconduct and was placed on the barred list.

Background Information

Story served with Cumbria Police in the rank of detective sergeant. According to a report into the case, he was selected for a random drug test by the force’s anti-corruption unit in August. Initially he told anti-corruption officers he was unable to provide a urine sample, but he was given “additional time and liquid intake to assist in the process” and provided a sample three hours later. The level of benzoylecgonine found was 940 nanograms per ml of urine, and the report said positive results were detected above 150.

The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation

Found grossly misconducted; would have been dismissed. A misconduct panel found the Cumbria Police detective sergeant’s positive cocaine test amounted to gross misconduct and barred him from policing after he resigned days before the hearing.

The case that ended Gary Story’s police career began in August, when the detective sergeant with the Cumbria force was picked at random for a drug test by the constabulary’s anti-corruption unit. According to the report, the sample he provided was found to contain benzoylecgonine, a product created in the system when the body breaks down cocaine. The level found was 940 nanograms per ml of urine, and the report said positive results were detected above 150, meaning Story was six times over the “acceptable limit”.

Initially, Story had told anti-corruption officers he was unable to provide a urine sample. He was given “additional time and liquid intake to assist in the process” and provided a sample three hours later, the report said.

Story did not attend the misconduct hearing, but he “fully admitted the case”, according to the report, and the hearing went ahead in his absence. It said: “The use of drugs means an officer is not safe or fit to protect themselves, their colleagues, but most importantly, the public they serve.”

The panel was told Story had shown remorse for his actions and said this was an isolated occurrence. His account of events, as recorded, was: “The officer states he was experiencing significant stress and alcohol intoxication whilst off duty at the time of the ingestion.” The panel therefore heard that the events took place whilst he was off duty.

Having tested positive for cocaine at work, Story was found to have committed gross misconduct. The panel ruled that he would have been dismissed from his job with Cumbria Police had he not resigned days before the hearing, meaning he left the force before the panel made its ruling. He was instead placed on the barred list, meaning he can no longer serve for any police force, and the outcome barred him from ever serving as a police officer again.

Public Reaction and Consequences

Chief Constable Darren Martland said: “I hope that the proactive action taken by the constabulary reassures the public that we will hold our officers to the highest standards and where they fall short, action will be taken.”

The chief constable’s statement followed the misconduct panel’s ruling that Story had committed gross misconduct and the decision to place him on the barred list, meaning he can no longer serve for any police force. The report also recorded Story’s own account: that he had shown remorse, that the ingestion was an isolated occurrence, and that he had been experiencing significant stress and alcohol intoxication whilst off duty at the time. The BBC reported the findings based on a report into the case, which set out the test results, the hearing outcome and the barred list decision. Beyond that statement to the panel, no separate public response from Story was reported.

Current Status

As of the report published on 3 November 2026, Gary Story is on the police barred list and can no longer serve for any police force. He resigned days before the misconduct hearing, and the panel ruled he would have been dismissed from Cumbria Police had he not done so. He did not attend the hearing but fully admitted the case. The positive finding arose from the random test carried out by the force’s anti-corruption unit in August. The officer had shown remorse and described the occurrence as isolated, according to the panel, and the chief constable said the constabulary would hold officers to the highest standards and take action where they fall short. No appeal or further proceedings were reported.

Impact on Their Career/Life

The gross misconduct finding ended Story’s career with Cumbria Police. He resigned days before the misconduct hearing, and the panel ruled he would have been dismissed had he stayed, so his exit from the force took place by resignation rather than dismissal. Because he was placed on the barred list, he can no longer serve for any police force and is barred from ever serving as a police officer again. The report described drug use as incompatible with the role, saying an officer who uses drugs is “not safe or fit” to protect themselves, their colleagues and the public they serve.

Sources

• “Cumbria Police detective who tested positive for cocaine barred - BBC News” source