In a recent development, PC Luke Hunt of the Metropolitan Police’s North East Command Unit was dismissed following a racist remark made to a colleague. The incident occurred while returning from a leaving party at Dirty Martini on Liverpool Street in January last year.
During a train journey, PC Hunt was told to be quiet by a colleague, which he responded to with the racial slur “shut up black boy”, directed at the colleague twice. This inappropriate behaviour was witnessed by two other police officers.
Despite the lapse of over a month, PC Hunt failed to offer an apology to the offended colleague, claiming it was inappropriate to do so over the phone and not making any efforts to arrange a face-to-face apology.
Acknowledging his use of the racial term, PC Hunt expressed regret for what he described as a “stupid mistake” and a “bad error of judgment.” He requested the misconduct panel for a final written warning.
However, the panel, having reviewed the evidence, concluded that PC Hunt’s actions constituted gross misconduct, leading to his dismissal. Chief Superintendent Simon Crick emphasized the Metropolitan Police’s commitment to high standards of behaviour and zero tolerance for racism, stating that PC Hunt’s conduct was unacceptable and undermined confidence in the Met.
The dismissal serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining professional conduct and respecting diversity in the workplace.
