PA MediaThe pinnacle of Metropolitan Police’s Black Police Affiliation (MBPA) was the topic of a racist fabrication of WhatsApp messages, a misconduct listening to was advised.
Insp Charles Ehikioya is accused of being in a chat with former officer Carlo Francisco the place racist, misogynistic, homophobic and pornographic messages had been despatched and obtained.
The officer, who’s the full-time chairman of the MBPA and might be fired if the claims are proved, is at the moment on restricted duties.
He denies the claims and says the messages had been both fabricated or falsely attributed to him due to his race or place on the MBPA, the listening to was advised.
‘Vile group’
Mr Francisco was in a separate group chat the place Insp Ehikioya was the topic of racism from colleagues in November 2016, the listening to at Palestra Home in London was advised.
Nicholas Yeo, for the inspector, mentioned phrases “intrinsically linked” to slavery within the US within the 1800s had been used.
“PC Francisco might not have been motivated in a approach by way of a strict motivation however it’s fairly clear that he was a part of a vile, racist group that needed to do the officer [Insp Ehikioya] nice hurt for no purpose apart from his race,” mentioned Mr Yeo.
In 2023, Mr Francisco was individually discovered responsible of gross misconduct over the messages shared in that group together with seven others, together with some which made enjoyable of Katie Worth’s disabled son Harvey.
He was dismissed in July 2022 for “an unrelated matter” involving “discreditable conduct”, the Met mentioned.
Mr Yeo mentioned: “There was a motive to do hurt and that’s the officer’s race.”
He added that Insp Ehikioya is just not a racist particular person and has devoted his life to preventing racism and will have been focused due to this.
‘Deplorable messaging’
James Berry, representing the Met, mentioned in his closing argument the suggestion the messages had been fabricated by Mr Francisco was “plainly nonsense” due to an absence of motive.
Mr Berry accepted there have been “vile racist messages” by some members of the Whatsapp group about Insp Ehikioya however mentioned that “doesn’t quantity to a motive to attempt to finish his profession”.
He advised the listening to after Insp Ehikioya’s cellphone was seized by police on 18 October 2021, there have been greater than 357,000 WhatsApp messages deleted in complete, and the complete interplay between him and Mr Francisco was “seemingly” amongst them.
Mr Berry added: “We are saying that this can be a clear case of gross misconduct primarily based on the character and quantity of deplorable messaging on this case.
“Gross misconduct is conduct that may in precept justify dismissal.
“The officer pretty confirmed that there isn’t a place within the Metropolitan Police Service for any officer sending or receiving with out problem the messages on this case.”
The listening to is because of conclude on Friday.
