A Metropolitan Police inspector has been dismissed without notice after a misconduct hearing found that he had sent and received offensive and inappropriate WhatsApp messages over a period of several years.
Misconduct Findings
An independent panel, led by a senior police officer and a legally qualified misconduct expert, ruled that Inspector Charles Ehikioya had engaged in serious misconduct by sharing and failing to challenge discriminatory content.
The panel found that between 2017 and 2020, Inspector Ehikioya exchanged a significant number of inappropriate messages, memes, videos, and images with a now-dismissed police constable. These messages included:
- Pornographic material
- Scenes of violence
- Misogynistic content
Despite receiving similar material, Inspector Ehikioya did not challenge or report the offensive messages. Instead, when he expressed concern, it was only about the risk of being caught rather than the inappropriate nature of the messages themselves.
In a WhatsApp message from April 2019, he warned the other officer:
“Yo, you need to stop sending or receiving these silly porns, before you get into trouble with work. Because someone you know or don’t know might decide to shop you brov… Be warned brov.”
Investigation and Hearing
The WhatsApp messages came to light in December 2020 when police seized a phone while investigating an unrelated allegation against another officer.
- The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards launched an investigation, later referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which allowed the Met to handle the case locally.
- The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) reviewed the case but found it did not meet the criminal threshold for prosecution.
- In June 2024, Inspector Ehikioya was officially notified of the misconduct hearing against him.
Failed Defence and Dismissal
Before the hearing, Inspector Ehikioya claimed that he had never sent or received the messages and that they had been fabricated to frame him.
However, forensic data analysis disproved his claims, as:
- Thumbnails of the images were found on his device.
- WhatsApp messages contained details that only he would know, including personal information about his relatives.
The panel rejected his defence, describing it as “fanciful, far-fetched, and totally implausible.”
Commander Jason Prins, chair of the misconduct panel, stated:
“Inspector Ehikioya’s actions were intentional and deliberate. He would have been aware that his views were totally contrary to the principles and policies of the Metropolitan Police and the ethos of a modern police service.”
“The public would be shocked and appalled to find that a serving officer could hold and express such harmful, discriminatory, and derogatory views.”
The panel found that his conduct had seriously damaged public confidence in the Met Police and ruled that the only appropriate sanction was dismissal without notice.
Addressing Misconduct Concerns in the Met
The Met acknowledged the concerns over racial disproportionality in the misconduct system, particularly for Black and ethnic minority officers. However, they emphasized that in this specific case, no evidence suggested racial bias in the investigation or decision-making process.
The force confirmed that significant reforms are being introduced to address concerns around the fairness and transparency of the misconduct system.
Inspector Ehikioya’s dismissal marks another step in the Met’s efforts to restore public trust and eliminate inappropriate behavior among officers.
