Police shared 'foul' messages about the vulnerable

The officers made the comments about vulnerable people, including a 15-year-old and others having mental health crises

Two British Transport Police (BTP) officers who shared "inappropriate, derogatory and offensive" messages would have been dismissed if they were still serving, a gross misconduct hearing has found.

Sgt Trevor Waller, from Brighton in East Sussex, and another anonymous officer shared messages in a WhatsApp group chat that breached professional standards, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.

It found both officers made the comments about vulnerable people, including a 15-year-old and others having mental health crises.

"The foul messages... showed they had no respect for the public they're supposed to serve," said Det Supt Brett Walker of the BTP.

He added that police officers were expected to uphold the "highest standards of conduct and behaviour".

"There is simply no place in policing for individuals like these."

Derogatory comments were also made by the pair about colleagues, which was found could amount to bullying.

The IOPC investigated messages sent among BTP officers between April and August 2023.

Two other officers who were part of the same WhatsApp group were dismissed earlier this year following an accelerated misconduct hearing, BTP said.