Three other officers have lost their jobs in similar circumstances over the past few months
The PSNI Chief Constable has issued a statement after an officer was sacked for gross misconduct after being found to have sent offensive WhatsApp messages, revealing three others have lost their jobs in similar circumstances.
The dismissal follows a Police Ombudsman investigation into “sectarian, racist, homophobic, anti-Semitic, misogynistic and sexualised” messages that has also seen eight more officers who failed to intervene referred for potential breaches of the PSNI’s code of ethics.
Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has now issued a statement following the dismissal saying the messages were “shocking, wholly inappropriate and discriminatory” and that three other officers have been dismissed in recent months in similar circumstances.
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He said: “We expect the highest standards of professionalism and integrity from all of our police officers in accordance with the standards contained in the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Code of Ethics. “This matter was heard by myself in a Special Case Hearing and our robust actions show that we will not tolerate this damaging and unprofessional behaviour – there is no excuse. “The messages repeatedly shared by this former constable were shocking, wholly inappropriate and discriminatory. The attitudes of sectarianism, racism, homophobia, anti-Semitism and misogyny within these messages have no place in policing. “The police officers who received the messages and failed to report or challenge them were subject to management action in relation to potential breaches of our Code of Ethics. “A further three officers have been dismissed without notice in recent months in similar circumstances following wholly inappropriate material being shared amongst groups. “Police officers exercise significant powers, and it is vital that there is an accountability framework for officers. If the public is to have confidence that we will police without prejudice and fairly, it is essential that just as we, as the Police Service, pursue perpetrators in our communities, we are as committed to rooting out those that may be in our own ranks.”
The PONI said the “sectarian, racist, homophobic, anti-Semitic, misogynistic and sexualised” messages were sent over a period of months, including when the officer was on duty, and showed “sustained, consistent behaviour” with the WhatsApps continuing even after the officer had been asked to stop twice by the complainant.
“Digital analysis of the police officer’s phone showed that he had sent multiple images and videos, which were highly inappropriate and offensive, to the complainant, other members of the public and other police officers,” said Nikki Davis, Director of Investigations with the Police Ombudsman’s Office.
“This was not a one-off, isolated incident, which could potentially be attributed to a lapse in judgement. It was sustained, consistent behaviour, exacerbated by the police officer’s view, when interviewed by our investigators, that he did not consider the material to be offensive or his actions to be in breach of the PSNI Code of Ethics.”
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