Discriminatory messages shared within WhatsApp group – West Mercia Police and Dyfed-Powys Police, March 2021

In March 2021, we began an independent investigation into the conduct of eight West Mercia Police officers and, subsequently, one Dyfed-Powys Police officer, involved in a WhatsApp group called ‘The Super Shift’. This was following conduct referrals from both West Mercia Police and Dyfed-Powys Police.

A participant in the WhatsApp group had their force-issued mobile telephone seized as part of an unrelated independent IOPC investigation. A total of 1,555 messages were recovered within this group, some of which included attachments such as photographs, videos and memes.

The initial conduct referrals from both forces referenced that messages shared within the group could be deemed racist, homophobic and/or misogynistic in nature.

Our investigation looked at whether any of the messages or attachments sent or shared by the officers within the group could be deemed offensive or discriminatory and whether any of the messages or attachments sent or shared within the group, deemed to be offensive or discriminatory, were challenged or reported by any of the officers. Finally, and only where applicable in relation to the Dyfed-Powys Police officer, whether any of the messages sent or shared within the group could be deemed to be disclosing or discussing sensitive policing information.

During the investigation, we assessed each of the messages within the WhatsApp group and all nine officers were then interviewed in relation to these posts. A number of the messages shared were assessed as discriminatory and/or offensive in nature.

We initially concluded gross misconduct for three of the West Mercia Police officers and participation in the reflective practice review process (RPRP) for the five remaining West Mercia Police officers.

West Mercia Police then made their own representations, which we subsequently agreed with.

Three of the West Mercia Police officers were subject to a misconduct meeting in October 2022, which resulted in written warnings on file for 18 months and the remaining officers went through RPRP.

An officer reflecting on their actions is a formal process outlined in legislation. RPRP consists of a fact-finding stage and a discussion stage, followed by the production of a reflective review development report. The discussion must include:

• a discussion of the practice requiring improvement and related circumstances that have been identified, and
• the identification of key lessons to be learnt by the participating officer, line management or police force concerned, to address the matter and prevent a reoccurrence of the matter.

We concluded misconduct for the subject officer from Dyfed-Powys Police, and they attended a misconduct meeting in July 2022 and received a written warning on file for 18 months.

We waited for all associated proceedings to be finalised before publishing our findings.

We carefully considered whether there were any learning opportunities arising from the investigation. We make learning recommendations to improve policing and public confidence in the police complaints system and prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.

We did not identify any organisational learning.