Former PC barred over racist WhatsApp messages

Former PC Emily Leeming was told she would have been dismissed without notice had she not already resigned

A former police officer who sent WhatsApp messages containing "grossly offensive" racist terms has been barred from the profession.

PC Emily Leeming "repeatedly and deliberately" sent messages that were racist, offensive and discriminatory in nature, an accelerated misconduct hearing concluded.

The former South Yorkshire Police officer was told her actions had been unacceptable and amounted to gross misconduct.

The panel ruled she would have been sacked without notice had she not already resigned.

Monday's hearing was told the messages were discovered when the officer's phone was seized during an unrelated investigation.

According to the panel's report, racist words had been used by PC Leeming as well as her associates between 2021 and 2023.

It said while the officer was not the author of all messages she seemed prepared to use racist language herself and did not challenge others over their offensive conduct.

The chair of the hearing wrote in the report: "I was left feeling let down on reading the messages the former officer had on her telephone.

"I have been absolutely clear in my position that policing, and South Yorkshire Police in particular, will not tolerate prejudicial and discriminatory conduct, I want us to be an anti-racist force and, as such, I expect more of those who serve our communities."

The panel found the officer's conduct had been a deliberate breach while noting she had been very junior in service and had "apologised at a very early opportunity".

It concluded PC Leeming would have been dismissed without notice had she not already resigned.

She was also placed on the College of Policing's barred list.

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