Police Officer to Keep Job Despite Sharing Offending Meme in Sarah Everard Case

Strategic Insights -

A police officer involved in the search for Sarah Everard will keep his job despite allegedly sharing a highly offensive meme on social media. The probationary constable, who is one of five officers from four different forces facing disciplinary action, is expected to face a misconduct meeting for breaching professional standards. The incident occurred in March when the officer, who was off-duty at the time, shared the graphic, depicting violence against women, on WhatsApp. The IOPC has concluded that the officer had a case to answer for sharing the information, which could have brought discredit on the police and potentially interfered with the course of justice.

Key Takeaways:

  • A probationary police constable allegedly shared a highly offensive meme on WhatsApp, depicting violence against women, in connection with the search for Sarah Everard.
  • The officer, who was off-duty at the time, will face a misconduct meeting for breaching professional standards.
  • Five police officers from four different forces are facing disciplinary action for sharing messages linked to the Everard case, including a WhatsApp group with allegedly misogynistic and racist content.
  • Wayne Couzens, a Met diplomatic protection officer, was sentenced to a whole-life prison term for faking an arrest to abduct and murder Everard.
  • The IOPC is still investigating serving police officers, including three from the Met, for allegedly sharing misogynistic and racist messages on a WhatsApp group with Couzens.
  • An officer from Dorset police will face a gross misconduct hearing for allegedly posting details of an interview Couzens gave under caution.

Statistics:

  • 5 police officers from 4 different forces are facing disciplinary action for sharing messages linked to the Everard case.
  • 1 probationary police constable will face a misconduct meeting for allegedly sharing the offending meme.
  • 3 police officers from the Met are being investigated for allegedly sharing misogynistic and racist messages on a WhatsApp group.
  • 1 Dorset police officer will face a gross misconduct hearing for allegedly posting details of an interview Couzens gave under caution.
  • 7 officers from other forces were investigated for allegedly sharing information on Couzens's prosecution via the encrypted messaging app Signal.

Sources:

  • Fiona Hamilton, Crime & Security Editor, "Police officer to keep job despite sharing offensive meme in Sarah Everard case" (no publication date provided)
  • The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) statement (no date provided)