Investigation into abuse of position by Metropolitan Police officer

13 Feb 2018 01:26 PM

We have begun an investigation into a Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officer following allegations he abused his position as a Police Federation representative.

As a Police Federation representative, the Detective Sergeant (DS) was assisting a, now former, police constable with an employment matter. It is alleged that text messages, sent by the DS between October 2015 and September 2017, contained unwanted inappropriate sexual content as well as homophobic and racist language.

The MPS referred the matter after a second Federation representative was told about the alleged behaviour and reported it to his professional standards department.

Investigators will examine the appropriateness of contact between the officer and his colleague, whether the officer used his position to influence or delay work matters and whether his colleague was treated differently due to her ethnicity.

Evidence relevant to these allegations relating to both the officer’s role as a Police Federation representative and as a serving officer will be gathered and the officer will be interviewed by investigators for potential breaches of the standards of professional behaviour that could amount to gross misconduct.

IOPC Regional Director Jonathan Green said:

“Police Federation representatives are committed to maintain exemplary standards of conduct, integrity and professionalism and enjoy a position of some power. These allegations are serious and will be subject to robust and independent investigation.”