Devon and Cornwall Police officer to appear in court over sharing allegedly grossly offensive image

21 Jan 2021 04:09 PM

A Devon and Cornwall Police officer is to appear in court to face a charge of sending an allegedly grossly offensive image, following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Sergeant Geraint Jones, aged 47, is charged with sending the image on 30 May last year by means of a public electronic communications network, an offence contrary to S.127 of the Communications Act 2003.

An altered image of George Floyd’s arrest in Minneapolis was shared within a WhatsApp group that included a number of other police officers and staff.

Our investigation began in June 2020 following a referral from the force. At its conclusion in October we sent our investigation report to the Crown Prosecution Service which has authorised the charge.   

The officer is due to appear at Newton Abbot Magistrates’ Court on 28 January.