Police officers in a specialist crime unit used extreme and deeply offensive language and created a ‘toxic culture that became the norm’ because of ‘weak leadership’, a misconduct hearing heard today.
The serious organised crime team at Northern Police Investigation Centre in Basingstoke, Hampshire, described as ‘ableist, sexist, racist, transphobic and homophobic’, were caught making abusive comments in a covert recording.
Today, the officers claimed the investigation into their behaviour had ‘lost all sense of perspective’ and argued their language could only be offensive if people had heard it and were upset by it.
However, Jason Beer QC argued: ‘If a person is in an empty room and sings a deeply offensive song about black people and that is recorded then the officer does not act with tolerance even though he isn’t [speaking to] anyone at all.’
Six officers within the SOCU unit are accused of either making ‘abhorrent’ comments, or not challenging others when those remarks were made.
The officers accused of gross misconduct are Detective Inspector Timothy Ireson, Detective Sergeant Oliver Lage, Detective Sergeant Gregory Willcox, trainee Detective Constable Andrew Ferguson, PC James Oldfield, and PC Craig Bannerman
A covert recording was made between March 9 2018 and April 2 2018 following an anonymous complaint to a whistleblowing service.
The officers accused of gross misconduct are Detective Inspector Timothy Ireson, Detective Sergeant Oliver Lage, Detective Sergeant Gregory Willcox, trainee Detective Constable Andrew Ferguson, PC James Oldfield, and PC Craig Bannerman.
PC Oldfield is also accused of coming into work drunk and claiming he would be fine as long as he didn’t go near a ‘sexual assault victim’ the force was helping.
DS Willcox is also accused of falsely recording hours and overtime.
Today the hearing, viewed by members of the press via video link in Winchester, Hants, heard DC Ferguson, described the ‘toxic language’ as like a ‘dripping tap’.
Jason Beer QC, said: ‘In [PC Ferguson’s] memorable phrase to investigators he said ‘You have had three weeks of it, I’ve had six and half months of it.’..
‘PC Ferguson said [the abuse] was like a dripping tap and the tap continued for the entire six months he was there*
‘PC Ferguson told his wife he didn’t feel [DI Ireson] or [DS Willcox] were approachable as they were complicit in the culture.’
Mr Beer QC today revealed that some of the officers had criticised the scope of the misconduct hearing.
He said: ‘Some of the officers have been critical of the appropriate authorities’ approach to some allegations*DS Willcox said the appropriate authority had lost any sense of perspective*
‘[He suggests] whether or not an officer is guilty of misconduct depends on the sensibilities of his audience.
Today, the officers claimed the investigation into their behaviour had ‘lost all sense of perspective’
‘I.e. the extent to which the audience might agree, the extent they might find it offensive, the extent they have thick skins and are prepared to let matters go like water off a duck’s back*’
Mr Beer continued: ‘The issue is not whether they reasonably believed [they would offend someone] but whether they might be offended*
‘If a person is in an empty room and sings a deeply offensive song about black people and that is recorded then the officer does not act with tolerance even though he isn’t [speaking to] anyone at all*
‘This approach is consistent with DS Willcox’s conduct on the ground. In short, if there are no complaints then everything is fine.’
DI Ireson and DS Willcox, who were in charge of the unit were described as ‘weak and permissive’ leaders.
Mr Beer continued: ‘This was not an isolated outburst of poor behaviour* it is deep-rooted and longstanding and pervasive. That makes the failure in leadership much more serious*
‘[The] behaviour of the team [DI Ireson] was supposed to be supervising was by his own admission at the extreme end of the spectrum on a number of occasions*
‘Overall we say DI Ireson was a weak leader with a permissive attitude to poor behaviour [which] allowed the toxic culture to be embedded in SOCU North.’
Previously the hearing was told officers likened the only black officer to a mixed breed dog, called him ‘a pavement special’, sang the Bob Marley song Buffalo Soldier at him and said he had been flown ‘from Africa in a crate’ and taken to London Zoo.
The hearing heard the squad also placed a map of Africa above the area in the office where two men of African heritage sat and nicknamed it ‘African Corner’.
The men joked that ‘Albanian migrants’ should be shot on entry to the UK or killed with a nerve agent and called women ‘sluts and whores’.
Officers also sent ‘explicit’ fake pornographic images of Prince Harry and Kate Middleton to the work’s WhatsApp group.
One also allegedly ‘boasted about coming into work drunk’ after staying up until 2am watching boxing matches and another referred to the Police Crime Commission as ‘bell ends’.
Previously, Mr Beer said: ‘The behaviour of this group of officers displays the full panoply of offensive, inappropriate and discriminatory beliefs, conduct and language…
‘It extends to homophobia… It extends to racism… It is extends to sexism and sexual remarks…It extends to mocking disabilities…’
The hearing has been told DI Ireson has retired and PC Bannerman has resigned since the covert recordings were made at the force’s serious organised crime unit between March 9 2018 and April 2 2018.
The police officers all admit misconduct but deny gross misconduct. The hearing continues.