Met Police Inspector Sacked Over Offensive WhatsApp Messages
Inspector Dismissed for Sending Offensive Memes and Videos
A Metropolitan Police inspector has been fired without warning after a misconduct panel ruled he sent and received discriminatory and inappropriate WhatsApp content over several years.
Inspector Charles Ehikioya was found guilty of sharing and ignoring offensive messages, including pornographic images, violent clips, and misogynistic memes, sent back and forth between him and a now-dismissed constable between 2017 and 2020.
WhatsApp Horror: Porn, Violence & Misogyny Shared Unchallenged
- Pornographic material
- Graphic scenes of violence
- Misogynistic content
Despite seeing the offensive content, Ehikioya failed to report or challenge it. His only concern was avoiding detection, telling a colleague in April 2019,
“Yo, you need to stop sending or receiving these silly porns, before you get into trouble with work… Be warned brov.”
Investigation Triggered by Seized Phone
The damning WhatsApp exchanges surfaced in December 2020 after police seized a device during an unrelated probe. The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards investigated, handing the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), who let the Met conclude the matter locally. The Crown Prosecution Service ruled there was no criminal offence.
In June 2024, Ehikioya was formally told a misconduct hearing was starting against him.
Fake Denials Exploded by Forensic Evidence
Before the hearing, the inspector denied ever sending or receiving the messages, claiming they were fabricated to frame him. But data analysis smashed his defence:
- Image thumbnails were found on his phone
- Private message details revealed only he could know personal information
The panel described his explanations as “fanciful, far-fetched, and totally implausible.”
“Inspector Ehikioya’s actions were intentional and deliberate,” said Commander Jason Prins, misconduct panel chair. “He knew his views broke the Metropolitan Police’s core principles. The public would be shocked that an officer held such hurtful, discriminatory beliefs.”
The panel decided Ehikioya’s conduct seriously damaged public trust in the Met, leaving dismissal without notice as the only option.
Met Pledges Reform Amid Fairness Concerns
The Met acknowledges concerns over racial disproportionality in disciplining Black and ethnic minority officers but insists no bias occurred in this investigation.
The force is rolling out major reforms to improve transparency and fairness in handling misconduct.
Ehikioya’s sacking highlights the Met’s ongoing battle to clean up its ranks and restore public confidence.
