Three Met Police Officers Charged Over Grossly Offensive WhatsApp Messages
Three Metropolitan Police officers, including one former cop, are set to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 16 March. They’re facing charges linked to a WhatsApp group chat where grossly offensive messages were allegedly sent.
Charges Stem from Disturbing Case Linked to Wayne Couzens
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed the charges relate to evidence uncovered during the investigation into Wayne Couzens, the officer convicted of murdering Sarah Everard. The alleged offences took place between April and August 2019.
IOPC revealed their probe started after the Met Police referred the case in April last year. By December, the investigation was complete, with the evidence passed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
CPS Acts, Emphasises Fair Trial Rights
Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS special crime division, said:
“Each of the three defendants has been charged with sending grossly offensive messages on a public communications network. The alleged offences took place on a WhatsApp group chat.”
She added CPS’s role isn’t to decide guilt but to fairly assess whether charges should proceed. Ainslie warned against publishing anything that might jeopardise the defendants’ right to a fair trial.
Met Police Responds to Charges
The Met issued a brief statement:
“We are aware of charges brought against two serving Metropolitan Police officers and one former officer about sending grossly offensive messages on a public communications network.”
The case casts a dark shadow over the Met as questions loom over the conduct of officers during one of their most notorious scandals.
