Lancashire police officer being investigated over homophobic and racist messages
The officer is alleged to have sent messages containing homophobic and racist slurs about gay men and people from an Asian background.
Words: Alastair James; pictures: Wiki
A Lancashire police officer is being investigated over homophobic and racist messages she is alleged to have sent while serving for the force.
An investigation is being carried out by Lancashire Police after the messages were reported anonymously to the force and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
The officer in question has now been stood down from frontline duties while the investigation is being done.
“We are looking into those matters”
The messages which are said to form the centre of the investigation include a number of homophobic and racial slurs, with some referring to gay men and people from Asian backgrounds (as per The Lancashire Post).
A spokesperson for the police has told Attitude: “We have received an anonymous report alleging that inappropriate text messages had been sent by an officer. We are looking into those matters and the officer is currently on alternative duties.”
It isn’t known which division the officer in question worked in when the messages were sent.
The IOPC told Attitude a complaint was forwarded to Lancashire Police on 6 October as required by law, and that “in the first instance, it is for the force to decide whether the matter should be referred to the IOPC.”
Earlier this month Attitude reported on homophobic, racist and sexist messages sent by Wayne Couzens, who murdered Sarah Everard in March. The vile texts were found on his phone following his arrest over Everard’s killing and included jokes about violence against women.
The Times learned that five officers in a WhatsApp group with Couzens, including three serving Metropolitan police officers – one from Norfolk Constabulary and another from the Civil Nuclear Constabulary – were being investigated by the IOPC.
The investigation was looking into whether the officers concerned committed gross misconduct and could face criminal proceedings.
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