Police officer sacked over offensive WhatsApps

A misconduct hearing found former PC Samuel Thacker's behaviour amounted to gross misconduct, Staffordshire Police said

A former police officer has been sacked for sending offensive WhatsApp messages to colleagues, a police force said.

Former PC Samuel Thacker, a response officer based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, sent offensive, derogatory and demeaning messages - many of which were about female police officers - to male colleagues.

He also sent messages that contained discriminatory comments about people with disabilities and some which were derogatory about more senior officers, Staffordshire Police said.

They added an accelerated misconduct hearing found his conduct amounted to gross misconduct.

The one-day hearing took place on 28 November and was chaired by Chief Constable Chris Noble.

The panel found Mr Thacker had breached the force's standards relating to authority, respect and courtesy, equality and diversity and discreditable conduct.

Deputy Chief Constable Jon Roy said: "Sexism and misogyny are not acceptable and we will continue to take robust action against any officer or member of staff that doesn't act with the highest standards of authority, respect and courtesy.

"Every day hard-working police officers perform their duties with the utmost professionalism and I am sure they share my disgust at this kind of behaviour."

Mr Thacker will be placed on the College of Policing's barred list, preventing him from working within policing and other law enforcement organisations.