Met inspector 'in racist and sexist WhatsApp chat'

Insp Charles Ehikioya, who is currently on restricted duties, says the messages were either fabricated or falsely attributed to him

The head of the Met's Black Police Association (MBPA) was in a WhatsApp group where "wholly offensive" messages were shared, a misconduct hearing was told.

Insp Charles Ehikioya is accused of being in a chat with former officer Carlo Francisco where messages including jokes about sex with a girl with Down's syndrome and mockery of the late Prince Philip's car crash were sent.

The chat also allegedly included "clearly racist" messages.

Insp Ehikioya, who is currently on restricted duties, denies the claims, saying the messages were either fabricated or falsely attributed to him because of his race or position at the MBPA, the hearing was told.

Mr Francisco was separately found guilty of gross misconduct in 2023 over messages shared in a group with seven others.

Insp Ehikioya, based in the professionalism command, could be sacked if allegations he was in a group where inappropriate, racist and misogynistic texts were sent between 2017 and 2020 and that he failed to challenge them are proved.

He also sent a video in which a child with a naked bottom was shown, it was alleged.

Some messages involved extreme violence, such as people being shot in the head, the Met Police gross misconduct hearing at Palestra House in London heard.

James Berry, counsel for the force's Professional Standards Department, said that many of the thousands of messages allegedly sent between the group over three years were a "disgrace" and inappropriate for a police environment.

He criticised the "wholly offensive" joke about a girl with Down's syndrome.

'Derogatory and demeaning'

There was also an image depicting the former Duke of Edinburgh's car crash in January 2019 which also referenced Diana, Princess of Wales.

Mr Berry said: "Some of the messages in issue in this case would rightly cause the public to be concerned as to whether the officers would be capable of impartially discharging their duties when it comes to women, given the sheer volume of derogatory and demeaning comments and imagery."

The messages were discovered after a female PCSO complained about Mr Francisco in December 2020 and his phone was seized.

Mr Francisco was dismissed in July 2022 for "an unrelated matter" involving "discreditable conduct", the Met said.

Insp Ehikioya previously claimed he was racially harassed by two white colleagues when he was stopped while driving home from work.

The officer said he was pulled over in Croydon, south London, on 23 May, 2020.

No action was taken against the inspector as a result of the stop and the Met said a review "found no evidence of misconduct".

The hearing is due to run until 10 January.