A gross misconduct tribunal was informed this afternoon that a Met Police officer had shared a meme with his coworkers that compared Meghan Markle to a Golliwog.
PC Sukhdev Jeer, PC Paul Hefford, and retired officer Richard Hammond are charged with disseminating obscene and racial WhatsApp messages.
They allegedly did not confront or report the other chat participants when they saw the abusive posts.
One had the caption “monkey in the jungle” and featured a little youngster wearing a hoodie.
Another featured a crippled man having difficulty walking while the Jurassic Park theme music played in the background.
“Everyone is so politically correct these days,” continued A. Tyrone, could you please paint that wall? You can’t even say “Black paint,” you have to say it.
The three officers dispute that their actions constitute serious misconduct. They will be fired if it is shown to be true.
PC Jeer was questioned by Vishal Misra of the Met Police this afternoon on a meme that featured a picture of a Golliwog toy with the statement, “A sneak glimpse at Meghan’s wedding dress.”
PC Jeer said that he did not think this funny even at the time.
It’s not nice that someone could make something like this, but I sent it to the group to demonstrate that there are still people who do this and find it amusing, not to make fun of it.
PC Jeer explained that he regarded memes as ‘jokes’ and tried to ‘find humour’ in what he posted.
During cross-examination, Mr Misra went through more of the content PC Jeer shared on the group.
One meme said: ‘We asked a hundred normal people, ‘What do you associate with Islam?’ 1. Terrorism 2. Pedofilia 3. Hate Preaching 4. Unwelcome invaders 5. Excessive breeders 6. Goat/Camel f******.’
Mr Misra told this morning’s hearing in Fulham that PC Jeer contributed to the group the most, followed by PC Hefford and then former PC Hammond.
The trio belonged to a Bethnal Green Police Station unit and participated in the ‘But They Promised’ WhatsApp group, which was active from January to December 2018.
Mr. Misra stated: “All of the text in the log is submitted to be clearly racist, homophobic, sexist, ableist, and islamaphobic.” He then gave a “flavour” of the types of remarks shared.
All of the respondents, he continued, “failed to challenge one another regarding the posted content.”
The panel was informed that PC Jeer tweeted an image of a young child wearing a sweatshirt with the text “monkey in the jungle” and an image of a penis overlaid.
PC Hefford allegedly added a disabled figure on top of the original photograph.
According to reports, former PC Hammond expressed “discrimination” toward the London borough of Tower Hamlets.
Former PC Hammond effectively claimed that members of the Bangladeshi community tolerate electoral fraud as a necessary component of their democratic procedures when he explained the message, according to Mr. Misra.
Former PC Hammond admitted during testimony that a message he sent to the group was “wrong and racist.”
“I’m really kind of ashamed of this one,” I said.
I wouldn’t defend it more vehemently than by providing context.
“It is not something a police officer should say,” she said.
Mr. Hammond denied harboring unfavorable views on Bangladeshis.
Absolutely not; I adore defending the community.
“That was the purpose of our visit.”
“I developed excellent relationships with citizens of Bangladesh.”
He was also questioned regarding another WhatsApp message he had sent.
This text message came in response to a text message from a female coworker who claimed three boys had threatened to throw acid on her.
The tribunal learned that she had added “2xIC1 and 3xIC3,” which stood for two white lads and one black boy, respectively.
“Black youngster leading those poor white kids astray,” Mr. Hammond retorted.
The former officer chuckled and shook his head, adamant that the message was “absolutely not” racist.
Clearly, to borrow the word I previously used, they are all little sh*t.
“I am certain that the two white children there were just as guilty as the black child.
‘What color they were had no bearing.
That remark was made in a sarcastic manner. one to slightly brighten the mood. Dark humor in your work as police officers.
However, I’m also being ironic, like the “poor white kids.”
They are undoubtedly just as accountable as everyone else there.
It’s a jab at prejudice, so to speak.
Six disparaging films were posted on the site, the attorney continued.
The panel was informed that PC Hefford posted the sixth and PC Jeer the first five.
Mr. Misra summarized one of the videos as follows: “It takes a scene from the movie Jurassic Park and plays the Jurassic Park theme tune and to that theme tune a man with impairments is seen going out of a building with the help of his caretaker.”
A white woman is shown saying that if you want to get good exercise, they would arrange for a black man to chase you about so that you can get exercise, according to the website funnyordie.com, which is described as another example.
A third shows a person with dwarfism jumping into a body of water as mocking sound effects are playing.
The behavior was allegedly “prolonged” because the group was active for a year.
All of the respondents have failed repeatedly and continuously to uphold the necessary professional standards, according to Mr. Misra.
The WhatsApp group’s respondents stated that “the communities that they regulate include the ones that are mocked by all of the respondents.”
The three officers dispute that their actions constitute serious misconduct.
The tribunal keeps going.