Three Metropolitan Police officers, including one former officer, are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 16 March. They face charges related to grossly offensive messages allegedly sent within a WhatsApp group chat.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed that these charges stem from evidence uncovered during the investigation into Wayne Couzens, the officer convicted of murdering Sarah Everard. The alleged offences occurred between April and August 2019.
The IOPC revealed that their investigation began after the Metropolitan Police referred the case in April of the previous year. By December, the inquiry was completed, and the evidence was passed on to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for further action.
Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS special crime division, stated: “Each of the three defendants has been charged with sending grossly offensive messages on a public communications network. The alleged offences took place on a WhatsApp group chat.” She emphasized that the CPS’s role is not to determine guilt but to fairly assess whether the charges should proceed. Ainslie also cautioned against publishing material that could jeopardize the defendants’ right to a fair trial.
The Metropolitan Police issued a brief statement saying: “We are aware of charges brought against two serving Metropolitan Police officers and one former officer about sending grossly offensive messages on a public communications network.”
This case raises serious concerns about the conduct of officers within the Met Police, especially in light of one of the force’s most notorious scandals.
Originally published by UKNIP.
