The head of the Metropolitan police’s Black Police Association was found guilty of gross misconduct for sharing inappropriate messages in a WhatsApp group
London: So, there’s been quite a stir over at the Metropolitan Police. The head of the Black Police Association, Charles Ehikioya, got himself into some serious trouble. A tribunal found him guilty of gross misconduct for being part of a WhatsApp group that shared some really nasty stuff.
Apparently, this group was not just a casual chat. It was filled with sexist and racist comments, and it included some pretty shocking messages. The tribunal said he could even be fired over this. Can you believe it?
Ehikioya claimed that the accusations were all made up, saying it was because of his race and position. But the panel didn’t buy it. They said his actions were a big no-no when it comes to professional behavior, especially regarding equality and diversity.
During the hearing, they revealed that over a span of three years, he sent and received thousands of messages that were described as disgraceful. One of the messages he sent was particularly offensive, making a joke about Muslims and Hugh Hefner. Just wow.
His buddy in the group, a former officer named Carlo Francisco, also sent some awful stuff, including a video mocking a disabled child. Francisco had his own misconduct issues earlier this year, so it seems like this group was a real hotbed of bad behavior.
Ehikioya even warned Francisco to stop sharing inappropriate content, but it looks like that didn’t help much. The tribunal heard some truly shocking messages, including racist videos and graphic images. It’s just a mess.
For now, Ehikioya is on restricted duties while they figure out what to do next. It’s a tough situation, and it’s definitely raised a lot of eyebrows about the culture within the police force.
