(Credit: Pixbay Commons)

Nadine Osman

The Independent Office for Police Conduct announced earlier this month that a group of police officers are being investigated over alleged derogatory WhatsApp messages, including remarks about the floods in Pakistan.

According to BBC Newsnight, the WhatsApp group shared racist images too offensive to broadcast, and messages used the “very strongest racial slurs,” including the P-word and the N-word.

The police watchdog has launched the inquiry following referrals from the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, which is responsible for protecting civil nuclear sites in England and Scotland, as well as a force in south-west England.

Five working Civil Nuclear Constabulary officers, one former Civil Nuclear Constabulary officer now working with another force, and another former Civil Nuclear Constabulary officer are being investigated under section 127 of the Communications Act, for sending grossly offensive messages.

All seven have been advised they are also under investigation for potential gross misconduct, although it does not mean criminal charges or misconduct proceedings will follow.

The Independent Office for Police Conductregional director, Catherine Bates, said, “The allegations against these officers and a former officer are extremely serious and concerning. On conclusion of our investigation, we will decide whether the matters should be referred to the Crown Prosecution Service, whose role it is to determine whether criminal charges will follow.”

“As this work is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

Commander Jon Savell, responsible for professional standards, said the officers “behaviour erodes the confidence that the public has in the police – a confidence that the vast majority of us in the Met works tirelessly day-in, day-out to maintain and improve. Racism, misogyny, homophobia or any other discriminatory behaviour has no place in the Metropolitan Police. Where such behaviour is identified it will be dealt with robustly, but we will also be actively seeking out those whose actions bring shame to us.

We contacted former officer’s representatives when these messages first emerged in April but they declined to share further details. We urge them to reconsider so we can take action. In the meantime we appeal to anyone who has information about such behaviour to make contact.”

The Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, added, “My plan for reform in the Met is already under way. I will be ruthless in rooting out those corrupting officers and staff, including racists and misogynists, from our organisation.

“I have taken over as the leader of an organisation that has been far too weak in taking on those who undermine the honest and dedicated majority who determinedly serve the public.

“That will change and I will continue to seek out those, from both within and outside the Metropolitan Police, with that constructive anger who can help us reform.”

It is the latest in a series of cases featuring offensive messages being shared on WhatsApp by police officers.

The Home Office confirmed that it suspended Robert Lewis, an immigration official and former Metropolitan police officer, who allegedly set up a WhatsApp group that frequently used racist language and shared racist jokes and memes.

Some of the posts referred to the government’s policy of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda, while others joked about flooding in Pakistan, which left almost 1,700 people dead. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were also featured in several memes, alongside racist language, Newsnight said.

The Metropolitan Police subsequently arrested Lewis on suspicion of offences under the Communications Act and misconduct in a public office.

Under the Metropolitan Police’s previous leadership, the force denied it was plagued by a culture of racism and misogyny after an official report revealed shocking details of officers’ sharing messages about hitting and raping women, as well as the deaths of black babies and the Holocaust.

In a statement to The Muslim News Labour’s London Assembly Policing and Crime Spokesperson, Unmesh Desai Assembly Member, called for the officer’s “abhorrent” behaviour to “be stamped out.”
He added, “Londoners need to see, not just a willingness to change, but decisive action to tackle this deplorable conduct to rebuild trust and confidence.

This is the latest in a series of scandals. Any officers or staffs responsible for sexism, racism, misogyny, homophobia, bullying or harassment need to be made an example of. The new Commissioner has to enact wholesale reform to rid the Met of the toxic culture that is casting a long shadow over their good work.”

He vowed to monitori Baroness Casey’s independent review into the Met’s standards “and keeping a close eye on Sir Mark Rowley’s progress from City Hall.”