Police officers exchanged vile messages - report

A father and daughter who were both police officers, exchanged "hostile" and "discriminatory" messages with each other about crime victims and colleagues, it has emerged.

In one message, the dad used a derogatory word to refer to a person with Down's syndrome, while another conversation included referring to mental health staff with a racist slur.

The pair, both called PC Napier but whose full names have not been disclosed - sent the "vile" WhatsApp messages, between 21 April 2020 and 26 May 2021.

They resigned from their roles with West Midlands Police (WMP) earlier this year but would otherwise have been dismissed, two accelerated misconduct hearings were told.

A report on their behaviour stated the comments made were hostile and discriminatory on the grounds of disability, race, nationality, gender and sexual orientation.

The hearings, held last month, were told both officers held "deeply ingrained hostility" towards others.

Messages were sent mocking members of the public, colleagues and victims of crime, the proceedings heard.

One message sent by the dad included a modified version of the WMP emblem.

Another exchange, about a crime scene on 26 October 2020, saw the pair callously discussing a potential murder.

The daughter wrote: "Is she mangled?", to which the dad replied, "She's face down so can't see a lot. There's just a lot of blood around her head."

When she responded to ask: "Oooo! You think it's murder?", he replied: "Who knows and dares to dream, I'll let you know when I know babe."

On 9 August 2020, while at the scene of a child death, the daughter sent her father a message which read: "Yeah I heard about it not good, is it trampy?"

The pair have not offered apologies for their actions.

They were both found guilty of gross misconduct and while the dad was described as the "instigator", his daughter was called an active participant in the "repulsive" exchanges.

The hearing found the two were conversing in an "abhorrently racist" manner for their "own self-amusement" - and aimed at people with protected characteristics and different to them.

The report, released following the hearings, said they were responsible for "serious breaches".

"[They] grossly undermine public confidence, [and] bring discredit upon West Midlands Police as they completely disrespected colleagues, victims and the public alike, in a way which was highly offensive and patently grounded in prejudice," it said.

"They knowingly and consciously decided to communicate in such a repulsive manner which demonstrates a palpable level of disrespect for difference and protected characteristics.

"On the balance of probability, the level of hostility they demonstrated in their communications was grossly offensive."

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