A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officer has been dismissed for sending “highly inappropriate and offensive” messages via WhatsApp, including while on duty.
They contained material which was sectarian, racist, homophobic, antisemitic, misogynistic and sexualised, said the Police Ombudsman’s office.
A person who received them over a series of months complained to the Police Ombudsman when the officer continued to send the material even after being asked twice to stop.
Eight police officers who received the messages and failed to report or challenge them have been referred to the PSNI for potential breaches of its code of ethics.
The complainant contacted the Police Ombudsman when the police officer continued to send the material, even after being was twice asked to stop.
“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.
She said it 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,” Mrs Davis said.
She described some of the material as an example of online gender-based hate speech.
“When this kind of messaging specifically targets women and combines sexual, racist and sectarian references, it moves into the realm of online gender-based hate speech,” said Mrs Davis.
“For a police officer to display these attitudes and behaviours towards women is unacceptable, and specifically undermines the PSNI’s commitment to ending violence against women and girls.
“However, this case demonstrates that allegations of misconduct will be robustly investigated and that officers will be held to account, all of which contributes positively to public confidence in policing.”
Following the conclusion of the Police Ombudsman investigation, a file was submitted to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) in relation to the potential offences of misconduct in public office and sending grossly offensive messages contrary to the Communications Act (2003).
The PPS directed no prosecution.
A misconduct file was then submitted to the PSNI’s professional standards department.
The Chief Constable held a special hearing and the police officer was dismissed after he was found to have breached the PSNI code of ethics.
