Seven former and serving British Transport Police officers have been sacked over a ‘disturbing’ WhatsApp group which included a joke about stabbing a waitress to death. PC James Elliot, PC Michael Lee, PC Steven Leung, PC Robert Whyte, PC Richard Wood, and former PC’s Lee Williamson and David Ford, were all dismissed without notice, after being found guilty of gross misconduct.
In 2021 the officers, part of the Operational Support Unit (OSU) based in London, were members of a WhatsApp chat group called ‘Team 3 Secret Service’. MyLondon previously revealed the internal investigation into the group, after a police source claimed the chat was discovered when an officer was arrested in a separate domestic violence offence in October 2023.
The messages were described as ridiculing protected characteristics, making fun of violence against women and girls, and supporting putative crime by police. Four supervisors – including PS Alexander Bratby, PS Russell Stobbs, and former PS Amed Vafa – also failed to challenge the messages, but received a lesser punishment of written warnings.
At a misconduct hearing in January, MyLondon reported on a series of messages, including jokes about victims, disabled people, and violence against women. The Appropriate Authority also claimed using the word ‘c**t’ was ‘crude and contemptuous’, and highlighted references to BTP’s Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi and the ‘LGBTQI mafia’.
The tribunal heard the following:
- Messages about ‘rope and gaffa tape’ with the hashtag ‘MeToo’ after a question about bringing ‘condoms and Viagra’ on an overnight work trip to Bristol.
- Reference to a female victim with a comment about ‘hiding her body’, plus the joke ‘You could be recognised everywhere by your victims now’ after an officer said ‘F**k, did I lock the basement?’.
- An exchange where an officer wrote ‘I have just noticed the waitress has an ACAB [All cops are bastards] tattoo on her forearm. Do I say nice tattoo or stab her?’, to which another replied ‘Stab her and throw her in the river’.
- An exchange where an officer said ‘Anyone selling a double bed?’, to which another replied ‘Yours got blood on it?’ along with a photo of a bed surrounded by weapons, a horror character, a doll, and a woman.
- A message from an officer that said ‘Looks like I really am a policeman. You’re going under my floorboards later sweetheart’.
- After an image of a disfigured person was shared in the chat, one participant wrote ‘Fordy taking his new missus home tonight. This one won’t get away’.
- A ‘detailed’ description of a woman in his train carriage by PC Elliott, who also referred to the ‘shit planning department’ as ‘fisters’.
- PC Whyte asked if anyone had ‘extra small rib’ condoms ‘for Dave’ (in reference to PC Ford).
- A message about a ‘Nazi hat’.
- In reference to a casualty on the tracks, PC Lee wrote ‘Was he armless before?’.
- In another exchange, an officer shared a photo of a victim with a severe head wound, warning members not to share the image, to which one person said ‘That’s one way to solve dandruff’.
In his opening note, legal counsel for the Appropriate Authority (AA), Aaron Rathmell said the ‘deliberately risqué’ humour was meant for enjoyment and to get a reaction, but risked undermining public confidence in policing. Mr Rathmell also suggested ‘dark humour’ had ‘rung alarm bells’ because it is ‘often used to excuse unacceptable behaviour’.
Referencing the Angiolini enquiry into the abduction, rape and murder of Ms Everard by serving Met Police officer Wayne Couzens, Mr Rathmell further noted being a police officer is a ‘privilege’ and that in return an officer’s right to a private life is ‘fettered’ by the Code of Ethics, whether on or off duty, even in conversation with colleagues over secure channels.
This week a BTP spokesperson said: “The hearing was part heard on 4 February where the independent panel found their actions amounted to gross misconduct. Following the hearings on 23 and 27 May, five of the serving officers have been dismissed without notice and the two former officers would have also been dismissed without notice should they have still been serving.
“Four supervisors were also part of the WhatsApp group and answered allegations they breached the standards of professional behaviour by failing to challenge or report the offensive messages sent. In each case this was assessed as misconduct and the serving officers were provided with a written warning.”
‘Supposed ‘banter’ has absolutely no place in policing’
Assistant Chief Constable Charlie Doyle said: “The contents of this WhatsApp group was wholly unacceptable, with the messages exchanged both shocking and offensive in almost every way possible.
“Those who have sent these messages have shown complete contempt for the public they serve, the office of constable and the hard-working officers and staff in BTP who come to work every day to make a difference and behave with integrity.
“Holding a warrant card is a privilege and anyone who thinks it is acceptable to make such comments in the name of supposed ‘banter’ quite simply has absolutely no place in policing.
“The messages exchanged so seriously undermine public confidence and we are grateful to the independent panel for dismissing those concerned with immediate effect. As soon as we became aware of the chat, we launched a significant and complex misconduct investigation and ensured all of those involved, including the four supervisors who failed to challenge the messages, were suspended from duty.
“All officers and staff at BTP are expected to observe the highest standards of conduct and we are absolutely committed to identifying and driving out anyone who falls short of this as we have done in this case.”
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