The Met police have since issued an apology following newly discovered messages
Metropolitan police officers were exchanging highly offensive WhatsApp messages about rape, domestic abuse and homophobia, a damning report has found.
The probe into behaviour at Charing Cross police station revealed messages from a shared group chat where a male police officer told a woman “I would happily rape you” and “if I was single I would happily chloroform you.”
An investigation was launched into the police station, situated near Trafalgar Square in Central London, following a complaint that an officer had sex with a drunk person.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct appealed for more evidence to substantiate the claim and officers came forward with the incriminating text messages highlighting a culture of bullying, violence towards women, homophobia and perverting the course of justice.
Other text messages showed officers glorifying domestic abuse, with one officer responding “LMAO” to another who wrote “You ever slapped your missus? It makes them love you more. Seriously since I did that she won’t leave me alone.
“Now I know why these daft c**ts are getting murdered by their spas**c boyfriends. Knock a bird about and she will love you. Human nature.”
Investigators reviewed thousands of messages, including one that repeatedly referred to a fellow officer who brought a woman back to the police station for sex as “mcrapey raperson”.
The IOPC’s regional director Sal Naseem said: “The behaviour we uncovered was disgraceful and fell well below the standards expected of the officers involved.
“While these officers predominantly worked in teams in Westminster, which have since been disbanded, we know from other recent cases that these issues are not isolated or historic.”
The police watchdog has condemned Scotland Yard officers for a range of bad behaviour, including racism, misogyny, harassment and offensive social media messages.
The investigation eventually led to one officer being sacked and others being disciplined.
When first confronted with the messages, officers dismissed them as “banter”.
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