Eight officers guilty over vulgar Whatsapp posts

Eight West Yorkshire police officers who were part of a WhatsApp group used to share "racist and sexist" messages been found guilty of gross misconduct.

Sgt Mark Otter, PC Dominique Hawkins, PC Javaid Habeeb, PC Luke Riddett, and former PCs Tom Harrison, Matthew Harrison and Lee Hillyard were all found to have breached professional standards by a tribunal.

Another serving officer, who has been referred to only as PC X, was also found to have breached standards.

The officers, all of whom worked at Pudsey police station in Leeds, were found guilty of a total 67 allegations of gross misconduct between them, as well as 40 allegations of misconduct. A further 20 allegations were found not proven.

The findings were initially made in October, but only confirmed when the misconduct hearing resumed on Wednesday.

The policing authority, which brought the case against the officers, has argued five officers still employed by the force should be dismissed.

Their respective punishments are due to be decided by the end of the week.

Representing the authority, Olivia Checa-Dover said the WhatsApp group, which involved a wider pool of officers as well as the eight facing proceedings, had been "characterised by routine misogyny, casual racism and the proliferation of derogatory, offensive and discriminatory language".

There were also "mean-spirited and bullying remarks about colleagues and members of the public".

The messages included one officer suggesting an alleged rape victim was "probably asking for it anyway".

Ms Checa-Dover said failing to discipline the officers could affect public confidence in the police and efforts to recruit officers from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Another message said to have been sent by one of the officers read: "It's not harassment if they say yes. Remember lads, 50 nos and one yes is still a yes."

An image of an Asian detainee was also shared with a caption referring to terrorism.

At the hearing on Wednesday, advocates for some of the officers involved said other police colleagues had posted similar material in the group but had escaped misconduct proceedings.

In mitigation for Sgt Otter, his advocate said he was "highly respected" by colleagues and that other officers were "not before" the panel, despite also posting offensive content.

In mitigation for PC X and PC Hawkins, it was said both had been young officers and that being part of the WhatsApp group was seen as being socially "necessary".

Their advocate said both officers had shown "promise" in their careers and that they should be given a "second chance".

In mitigation for PC Habeeb, the panel was told he had "used inappropriate humour to lighten the mood" and had tried "extra hard" to fit into a group made up mainly of officers younger than him.

The same advocate said PC Matthew Harrison had been a "frank and honest" witness during the proceedings and that PC Luke Riddett was a family man with two children.

The eight officers were found guilty of:

PC X - eight allegations of gross misconduct and three allegations of misconduct. A further two allegations were found not proven.

PC Javaid Habeeb - five allegations of gross misconduct and 10 allegations of misconduct. A further allegation was not proven.

PC Matthew Harrison - five allegations of gross misconduct and five allegations of misconduct. A further three allegations were not proven.

Sgt Mark Otter - seven allegations of gross misconduct and three allegations of misconduct. A further allegation was not proven.

PC Tom Harrison - 10 allegations of gross misconduct and four allegations of misconduct. A further three allegations were not proven.

PC Luke Riddett - 26 allegations of gross misconduct and 12 allegations of misconduct. A further 10 allegations were not proven.

PC Dominique Hawkins - four allegations of gross misconduct and two allegations of misconduct

PC Lee Hillyard - two allegations of gross misconduct and one allegation of misconduct

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