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Six police officers and ex-officer face criminal investigation over ‘grossly offensive’ WhatsApp messages | UK News



The watchdog said a criminal investigation had been launched into six serving police officers and one former officer over “discriminatory” and “offensive” messages shared in a WhatsApp group, a watchdog said.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the officers were being investigated for violations under the Communications Act after allegedly sending “highly offensive messages”.

They include five officers serving in the Civilian Nuclear Constellation (CNC), one former CNC officer who now works for another force, and one former CNC officer.

All seven are also being investigated for potential misconduct, the IOPC said.

The watchdog said it had identified “a significant number” of messages of a “discriminatory, offensive or obscene nature” shared in the WhatsApp group.

According to the watchdog, it was introduced from CNC and a force in the south-west of England.

IOPC Regional Director Catherine Bates said: “The charges against these officers and a former officer are extremely serious and disturbing.

“Following the conclusion of our investigation, we will decide whether matters should be referred to the Crown Prosecution Service, which has a role in determining whether criminal charges follow. or not.”

The CNC is the armed police force responsible for the protection of civilian nuclear sites and nuclear material in England and Scotland.

The force said its five active-duty officers under investigation have been suspended while the IOPC investigation proceeds.

CNC Chief of Police, Simon Chesterman said: “I’m sure you can appreciate, this is a head-to-head investigation and I’m limited in what I can say at this stage because of us. must ensure it remains a fair and independent process.

“This is the latest in a number of cases where serving or former police officers have been accused of offensive and discriminatory conduct that has damaged public trust in their service.” security and reputation of the police sector.

“Those who hold and express racist, sexist, deviant, homophobic or any other discriminatory views have no place in the police service and they will be removed.”

It is understood that the IOPC investigation into officers unrelated to Sarah Everard’s killer is Wayne Couzens, who worked for CNC from March 2011 to September 2018.

Last month, a serving Metropolitan Police officer and a former colleague were was found guilty of sending offensive and racist messages in a WhatsApp group called “Bottles and Stoppers” with Couzens.

The netizen is serving a life sentence for the kidnapping, rape and murder of 33-year-old marketing executive Ms Everard in March 2021, while he was working at the Met.

On Friday, the new head of Met Police, Sir Mark Rowley, announced the force had set up a new anti-corruption unit to root out “criminal colleagues”.

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