Two Metropolitan Police officers have been fired after posting offensive messages, including a racist joke about the Duchess of Sussex, in a WhatsApp group chat.
PC Sukhdev Jeer and PC Paul Hefford, who worked in a unit at Bethnal Green police station in east London, posted inappropriate, highly offensive and discriminatory content in 2018.
At the hearing in the Empress State Building, west London, it was heard that the posts of a closed WhatsApp group, including one comparing Meghan to a “********” toy , were “of a discriminatory and serious nature.”
The news comes when the UK’s largest police force was subjected to special measures this week after a series of failures.
The couple’s actions, described as “abhorrent and discriminatory”, led to serious misconduct, a court ruled on Friday, meaning they were fired by force.
It means the men, whose actions were labeled “completely unacceptable” by the Met, cannot be employed by other police forces across the UK.
President Maurice Cohen said “dismissal is the only appropriate action.”
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“Highly discriminatory” messages.
PC Jeer, described as the “most active collaborating member,” posted a series of “highly discriminatory and offensive” images and messages.
It was learned that in a message, PC Jeer shared an image of a “********” toy with the headline: “A preview of Meghan’s wedding dress.”
Another was of a young boy in a sweatshirt with the title “****** in the jungle.”
Cohen criticized the posts as “highly corrosive and discriminatory” for members of the public “including those in the local community” they served.
Posts were made over an “extended period of time”
He had previously said the messages caused “serious damage to the reputation of the Metropolitan Police as a whole”.
Cohen said the charges took place “over an extended period of time” and that officers “should have been aware” of their “unacceptable nature.”
He added: “(They) should have been aware that these posts were openly racist, apt and sexist.”
“Dismissal is just a proper action”
The men also did not challenge and / or denounce the members of the group after receiving the offensive messages.
Met police have previously been criticized for officers’ misconduct and use of WhatsApp group chats.
Deniz Jaffer and Jamie Lewis were jailed after taking and sharing WhatsApp images of the bodies of murdered sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman who were found dead in a park in west London.
Attorney Ben Summers had argued that PC Jeer should not be fired for “a handful of inappropriate jokes” that caused “limited harm.”
Michael Shaw, representing PC Hefford, said the officer found his posts “embarrassing and difficult” and that he has learned a “sad lesson”.
Messages from former officer Richard Hammond, who was also part of the group, were deemed misconduct by the court.
Commander Jon Savell, professional standards, said: “The actions of these three are inexcusable.
“The entire Met is focused on eliminating anyone who displays this type of behavior and disappoints the Met and the audience we serve.”