Police officers exchanged vile messages - report

West Midlands Police commended Ms Napier in 2020 after body cam footage captured the moments after an offender spat in her face

A father and daughter who were both police officers, exchanged "hostile" and "discriminatory" messages with each other about crime victims and colleagues, it has emerged.

In one message, the dad used a derogatory word to refer to a person with Down's syndrome, while another conversation included referring to mental health staff with a racist slur.

The pair, PCs Craig and Annie Napier, sent the "vile" WhatsApp messages, between 21 April 2020 and 26 May 2021.

They resigned from their roles with West Midlands Police (WMP) earlier this year but would otherwise have been dismissed, two accelerated misconduct hearings were told.

A report on their behaviour stated the comments made were hostile and discriminatory on the grounds of disability, race, nationality, gender and sexual orientation.

The hearings, held last month, were told both officers held "deeply ingrained hostility" towards others.

The WhatsApp messages were sent between 21 April 2020 and 26 May 2021 and described at the hearings as "vile"

Murder victim mocked

Messages were sent mocking members of the public, colleagues and victims of crime, the proceedings heard.

One message sent by the dad included a modified version of the WMP emblem.

Another exchange, about a crime scene on 26 October 2020, saw the pair callously discussing a potential murder.

Ms Napier wrote: "Is she mangled?", to which Mr Napier replied, "She's face down so can't see a lot. There's just a lot of blood around her head."

When she responded to ask: "Oooo! You think it's murder?", he replied: "Who knows and dares to dream, I'll let you know when I know babe."

On 9 August 2020, while at the scene of a child death, Ms Napier sent her father a message which read: "Yeah I heard about it not good, is it trampy?"

The pair have not offered apologies for their actions.

They were both found guilty of gross misconduct and while Mr Napier was described as the "instigator", his daughter was called an active participant in the "repulsive" exchanges.

The hearing found the two were conversing in an "abhorrently racist" manner for their "own self-amusement" - and aimed at people with protected characteristics and different to them.

West Midlands Police previously called Ms Napier "brave" after she attended the scene of disorder at a block of flats in Coventry in May 2020.

The force posted body cam footage on X, showing the arrest of Temisan Oritsejafo - who spat in Ms Napier's face.

The post said: "Brave PC Annie Napier is still on active duty and at the forefront of keeping the public safe - and pursuing crime suspects - just like her colleagues across the force."

'Palpable level of disrespect'

The report, released following the hearings, said they were responsible for "serious breaches".

"[They] grossly undermine public confidence, [and] bring discredit upon West Midlands Police as they completely disrespected colleagues, victims and the public alike, in a way which was highly offensive and patently grounded in prejudice," it said.

"They knowingly and consciously decided to communicate in such a repulsive manner which demonstrates a palpable level of disrespect for difference and protected characteristics.

"On the balance of probability, the level of hostility they demonstrated in their communications was grossly offensive."