The identities of the police officers is strangely protected even though they had been convicted of a series of offences.
Two former Met officers have had gross misconduct allegations proven against them following a joint misconduct hearing held in public.
Former PC A and former PC B, previously based on the Central West Command Unit, did not attend the hearing led by an independent legally qualified chair to face allegations that their conduct amounted to a breach of various standards of professional behaviour.
The hearings began on Tuesday, 31 August and concluded on Wednesday, 1 September with a decision from the panel that had they still been serving officers, both would have been dismissed without notice.
Former PC A faced allegations that he breached standards of behaviour in respect of authority, respect and courtesy; discreditable conduct; equality and diversity; orders and instruction; and honesty and integrity.
Between July 2016 and March 2017, former PC A behaved inappropriately towards a colleague by sending them inappropriate text messages, asking personal questions regarding their sex life and then harassing and bullying them at work.
Following these actions, between April 2017 and May 2017 former PC A sent a series of text/WhatsApp messages to colleagues suggesting he may harm the colleague following their reporting former PC A’s inappropriate behaviour towards them.
Separately, between November 2016 and July 2017 former PC A sent a series of misogynistic text messages to former PC B that were inappropriate for a police officer because they contained derogatory comments about women.
On dates unknown between April 2017 and May 2017 it was found proven by the panel that former PC A was in possession of and taking androgenic-anabolic steroids.
In May 2017 former PC A destroyed evidence by wiping his WhatsApp message history when he suspected he may be arrested as part of an ongoing investigation.
Finally, on an unknown date in November 2014 whilst at a Christmas party former PC A used a racially offensive word repeatedly in conversation and between August 2016 and May 2017 sent a number of messages using inappropriate and offensive language. Subsequent examination of his phone revealed that it contained a number of offensive images and comments.
Former PC B faced allegations that he breached standards of behaviour in respect of equality and diversity; authority, respect and courtesy; and discreditable conduct.
Between November 2016 and July 2017 former PC B sent a series of misogynistic text messages to former PC A that were inappropriate for a police officer because they contained derogatory comments about women. In July 2017 he also sent a number of messages using inappropriate and offensive language.
The hearings are the partial outcome of an independent investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) after information was passed to them from the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) regarding allegations relating to the wider culture, working practices and supervision within a unit, now disbanded, at Charing Cross police station between 2015 and 2017. One of the recommendations from this investigation was that the two officers should face gross misconduct hearings, which the Met agreed with.
Former PC A was dismissed without notice from the Met in June 2019 at a Special Case Hearing after being convicted of a criminal offence. As such he was already on the Police Barred List. Those appearing on the list cannot be employed by police, local policing bodies (PCCs), the IOPC or HMIC.
Former PC B resigned from the Met in May 2019 before he could be served with a notice. He will now be placed on the Police Barred List.
Commander Paul Betts, from the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards said: “The actions of these two former officers are appalling and completely at odds with our values and the high standards we strive for and which the public rightly expect from us. I welcome the outcome today that had they still been serving officers, both would have been dismissed without notice.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Owain Richards, in charge of policing for Central West, said: “I fully condemn the actions of these two former officers who have behaved deploringly and fallen well below the high standards expected of our officers and staff.”
