01/08/2025
Officer Dismissed For 'Inappropriate And Offensive' Messages
A police officer has been dismissed from the force for sending "highly inappropriate and offensive" messages, following a complaint made to the Police Ombudsman's Office.
The messages, sent via WhatsApp over several months, even when the officer was on duty, contained material that was sectarian, racist, homophobic, anti-Semitic, misogynistic, and sexualised.
The complaint was initiated after the police officer continued to send the offensive content despite being asked to stop on two separate occasions. Nikki Davis, Director of Investigations with the Police Ombudsman’s Office, stated that digital analysis of the officer’s phone showed he had sent multiple offensive images and videos to the complainant, other members of the public, and other police officers. She emphasised that this was not a one-off incident but "sustained, consistent behaviour," worsened by the officer's view during interviews that he did not consider the material offensive or a breach of the PSNI Code of Ethics.
The material was also highlighted as an example of online gender-based hate speech. According to Mrs Davis, when such messaging "specifically targets women and combines sexual, racist and sectarian references, it moves into the realm of online gender-based hate speech."
She noted that this behaviour is unacceptable for a police officer and undermines the PSNI's commitment to ending violence against women and girls. Following a Police Ombudsman investigation, a misconduct file was submitted to the PSNI, leading to a special hearing by the Chief Constable where the officer was dismissed. He was found to have breached articles of the PSNI Code of Ethics related to Professional Duty, Equality, and Integrity. Additionally, eight other police officers who received the messages but failed to report or challenge them have been referred to the PSNI for potential breaches of the Code of Ethics.
The messages, sent via WhatsApp over several months, even when the officer was on duty, contained material that was sectarian, racist, homophobic, anti-Semitic, misogynistic, and sexualised.
The complaint was initiated after the police officer continued to send the offensive content despite being asked to stop on two separate occasions. Nikki Davis, Director of Investigations with the Police Ombudsman’s Office, stated that digital analysis of the officer’s phone showed he had sent multiple offensive images and videos to the complainant, other members of the public, and other police officers. She emphasised that this was not a one-off incident but "sustained, consistent behaviour," worsened by the officer's view during interviews that he did not consider the material offensive or a breach of the PSNI Code of Ethics.
The material was also highlighted as an example of online gender-based hate speech. According to Mrs Davis, when such messaging "specifically targets women and combines sexual, racist and sectarian references, it moves into the realm of online gender-based hate speech."
She noted that this behaviour is unacceptable for a police officer and undermines the PSNI's commitment to ending violence against women and girls. Following a Police Ombudsman investigation, a misconduct file was submitted to the PSNI, leading to a special hearing by the Chief Constable where the officer was dismissed. He was found to have breached articles of the PSNI Code of Ethics related to Professional Duty, Equality, and Integrity. Additionally, eight other police officers who received the messages but failed to report or challenge them have been referred to the PSNI for potential breaches of the Code of Ethics.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.