Twenty-two Metropolitan Police officers in the force’s East Area command have been placed on restricted duties and are under investigation by the Directorate of Professional Standards over a WhatsApp group allegedly containing racist remarks about white people.
East Area is the Met’s basic command unit for Barking and Dagenham, Havering, and Redbridge. No borough or station has been named for the officers under investigation.
One officer, reportedly Muslim, is alleged to have made remarks about “white trash” at theme parks. The officer is said to deny intending to cause offence or being racist. The officer has not been named, and the message itself has not been published.
Other messages are claimed to have been offensive about domestic-violence victims and vulnerable people, and are said to have celebrated using excessive force on prisoners. A Met spokesman said the messages are reported to include “unprofessional and insensitive language, potential data breaches and breaches of confidentiality.” “At this stage, there is no indication that any activity meets the criminal threshold,” the spokesman said.
It is understood that the investigation snowballed after an officer, also reportedly described as a Muslim, sent a sexist remark to a female colleague.
Chief Superintendent Dan Card, who leads policing in the area, said: “We know that news of this investigation may raise some concerns, both for members of the local community and within our own policing teams.” “No one in this organisation can be in any doubt as to the standards we have set.” “While it is important to recognise that enquiries are in an early stage, action will be taken against anyone whose behaviour falls below that which we would expect.”
About 40,000 messages are reportedly being scrutinised. The 22 officers have reportedly been served with disciplinary notices, and up to 30 could reportedly face action. Their ranks are said to range from constable to inspector. It has not been reported whether all 22 are accused of posting messages, of failing to challenge them, or only of being in the group, or whether the allegations are of misconduct or gross misconduct.
The Met was reportedly made aware of “a WhatsApp group allegedly containing inappropriate messages” on 11 October. After referring the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the force was reportedly instructed to investigate under the watchdog’s direction.
