Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman: Met PCs sacked over 'dead birds' messages

Two Met officers who took photos of two murdered sisters and described them as "dead birds" in WhatsApp messages to the public have been sacked following a tribunal.

PC Deniz Jaffer and PC Jamie Lewis were sent to Fryent Country Park in Wembley last June after the bodies of Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry were found.

The pair previously admitted taking and sharing photographs of the women.

They are due to be sentenced on 6 December.

Both were barred from policing following the hearing in west London.

Earlier this year Danyal Hussein was found guilty of the sisters' murders.

Ms Henry, 46, and Ms Smallman, 27, had been celebrating Ms Henry's birthday when they were attacked and repeatedly stabbed by Hussein.

The 19-year-old, from Blackheath in south-east London, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 35 years last month.

On Wednesday, the tribunal at the Met's Empress Building heard the actions of Lewis, 33, and Jaffer, 47 amounted to gross misconduct.

The hearing, chaired by Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball, was told both officers had been sent to guard the crime scene after the bodies of the two sisters were found.

PC Helen Tierney said Jaffer and Lewis had then left the cordon they were told to guard and took pictures of the bodies of the fatally wounded sisters.

"Neither of them had authority or a policing purpose to do so," PC Tierney said.

She explained Lewis sent a WhatsApp message which said: "Unfortunately I'm sat next to two dead birds with stab wounds."

Jaffer is then said to have sent a message in a WhatsApp group saying: "I'm here now I'll try to take pictures of the dead birds."

The panel was told Lewis had denied "with confidence" that he had taken any pictures when he was questioned following his arrest.

Images were then found on his phone, PC Tierney said.

Neither Lewis or Jaffer attended the hearing and instead sent a joint letter to Ms Ball who said "no response or explanation" for their actions had been received.

Jaffer resigned as a police officer on 18 August 2021, while Lewis remained a serving officer.

Ms Ball said she was "disappointed" Lewis had not given any explanation for what he did and added that both officers had behaved in a "hurtful and dishonest" way.

She told the hearing: "Both were aware of the other's actions and sent images to the other and failed to challenge or report such actions.

"It is obvious to all the behaviour this way discredits the police service and undermines public confidence.

"Dismissal would be justified and I find the matter as gross misconduct."

Ms Ball ruled that Lewis should be sacked from the Met, while Jaffer should be placed on a barred list from ever policing again.

The pair have already been warned they face "lengthy" jail terms when they are sentenced next month for misconduct in a public office.

"Their actions are shameful," Ms Ball said.