PC banned for 'derogatory' WhatsApp comments

A student police officer has been banned from policing after she was found to have taken part in inappropriate conversations in a large WhatsApp group.

PC Charlotte Harper, who was based in South Gloucestershire, was dismissed for gross misconduct after a hearing at Avon and Somerset Police's headquarters in Portishead on Thursday.

The hearing was told that Harper had identified herself as a police officer on the chat and shown a "derogatory attitude" towards the profession. She also joined in with "disrespectful conversations" about colleagues and a possible domestic abuse survivor.

Harper also ignored a conversation about a drug deal in the group chat which had almost 100 members.

The officer's behaviour on the WhatsApp group was brought to the attention of the Professional Standards Department (PSD) in July last year.

The PSD was alerted by a member of police staff who was briefly in the group themselves before they left due to concerns about the conversations.

The accelerated misconduct hearing, chaired by former Assistant Chief Constable Craig Holden, found that Harper had breached professional standards relating to authority, respect and courtesy, confidentiality and discreditable conduct.

Det Supt Will Thorpe, from the PSD, said: "The views expressed and language used by PC Harper in these conversations were wholly unacceptable and in no way reflect the values of our organisation.

"Members of the public must be able to trust that police officers will carry out their duties fairly, professionally and with respect for those they serve.

"When officers behave in a way that risks damaging that trust, it is right that they are held accountable.

"Professional standards apply whether officers are on duty, off duty, or communicating in private groups and we will continue to take action wherever conduct falls short of what is expected."

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