Northants Police officer shared video of man being violently beaten to death
A Northants Police officer shared a video with other officers of a man being violently beaten to death, a disciplinary hearing has heard.
The officer, who resigned from the force during the investigation into his conduct, was granted anonymity by Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet.
It was alleged that between June 15 and December 7, 2020, the former officer was a member of a WhatsApp group into which he sent a video which was inappropriate and/or denigrating and/or offensive.
The video was said to depict a male being violently beaten to death.
The former officer later sent messages into the group which were inappropriate and/ or denigrating and/or offensive and/or discriminatory.
It was further alleged that, when other police officers who were also members of the same WhatsApp group used inappropriate, demeaning, denigrating, offensive, derogatory, and/or discriminatory language when referring to members of the public and colleagues, the former officer failed to challenge or report them for improper conduct.
Northants Police said one of the other officers was dealt with at an accelerated misconduct hearing in January, and the others have gone through a private misconduct-only process.
It was alleged that the former officer concerned breached the standards of professional behaviour relating to:
Honesty and Integrity (Integrity only)
Authority Respect and Courtesy
Equality and Diversity
Discreditable Conduct
Challenging and Reporting Improper Conduct
The former officer attended the hearing, admitting all but two of the allegations.
The panel considered the available evidence and found the majority of the allegations proved to the level of Gross Misconduct.
It noted: “Having considered the allegations that the panel found proven, specifically the offensive, demeaning, and sometimes discriminatory conduct towards females, including colleagues and persons with a disability, the panel determined that the proportionate and appropriate conclusion that it could reach in the circumstances, namely to impose disciplinary action.
“The panel determined that had the officer still been serving, the only proportionate and appropriate sanction to fulfil the purpose of misconduct proceedings would be dismissal.”
The gross misconduct disciplinary hearing was held by Northamptonshire Police at Force Headquarters on Monday, July 27, and Tuesday, July 28.