A Metropolitan Police officer, PC Ruby Begum, has been dismissed without notice following a misconduct hearing after it was found that she had posted a series of racist comments on social media. The hearing, which took place on Wednesday, 23 October, concluded that PC Begum’s behaviour breached professional standards concerning conduct and equality, amounting to gross misconduct.
PC Begum, who was part of the Met’s Taskforce, was accused of posting discriminatory and offensive comments on her Twitter account between 2013 and 2019. These posts remained publicly visible even after she joined the Metropolitan Police as a Special Constable in May 2014 and subsequently became a Police Constable (PC) in July 2016.
The case was reviewed by an independent legally qualified panel, which found that her remarks contradicted the values of the Metropolitan Police. Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove, who oversees the Met’s Taskforce, stated, “There is absolutely no place within the Met for anyone with racist or otherwise hateful attitudes.” He emphasized the importance of the police force’s diverse workforce and the commitment to maintaining a culture where everyone feels welcome and valued. “Those who undermine these goals have no place in the organisation,” Wingrove added.
The investigation into PC Begum’s conduct began after the Metropolitan Police received information from a media source in August 2021. Following an initial assessment, the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards decided to conduct a formal investigation, placing PC Begum on restricted duties. In August 2022, she was suspended from duty.
The Met referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which ruled that the investigation should be conducted locally. After reviewing approximately 25,000 of PC Begum’s tweets, investigators determined she had a case to answer for gross misconduct.
As a result of the findings, PC Begum will now be placed on the barred list maintained by the College of Policing. This status prevents her from being employed by any police service, including local policing bodies, the IOPC, or the fire and rescue services.
The Metropolitan Police emphasized its dedication to tackling inappropriate behaviour within its ranks. Chief Superintendent Wingrove concluded, “We can only rebuild trust and continue to deliver the change that is needed by taking action, as we have today, to remove those within our ranks who do not share our values.”
