Firearms Officer Busted for Racist WhatsApp Rant
PC Mark Giles faces harsh criticism after a one-day hearing at Wiltshire Police HQ last Monday. An Independent Legally Qualified Chair ruled his conduct breached professional standards on authority, respect, equality, and discreditable behaviour.
Racist Messages Spark Outrage
Back in April 2023, PC Giles, part of the Firearms unit, sent racist and offensive WhatsApp messages aimed at a fellow officer. The messages shocked colleagues, as they targeted the officer’s ethnicity.
Deputy Chief Constable Hits Back
“PC Giles’ actions fell well below the high standards of professionalism that we, and the public, expect from all police officers, staff and volunteers,” said Deputy Chief Constable Craig Dibdin.
“He was immediately suspended once his behaviour came to light and an investigation was launched.
“There is no place for racist behaviour here. We are committed to rooting out and tackling inappropriate conduct to ensure our force is a truly anti-racist service.
“While we’ve made progress, incidents like this show how far there is still to go. We must call out racism and support victims to build an inclusive culture that protects our colleagues and communities alike.
“We will now work with PC Giles to ensure he understands the offence and upset his actions caused—and that such behaviour won’t be tolerated again.”
New Anonymous Reporting System Launched
In December, Wiltshire Police unveiled the Safe2Say anonymous reporting system. This new tool empowers officers, staff, and volunteers to report wrongdoing or concerns safely and confidentially. The force hopes it will help stamp out unacceptable behaviour from within.
