Hampshire Police Slammed for Withholding Details on Suspended Officers
Hampshire Police are under fire for keeping quiet about a scandal involving five suspended officers, including a former Isle of Wight cop. The probe has dragged on for over two years, with all officers still on full pay. Furious critics accuse the force of a shocking lack of transparency.
Secret Undercover Sting Uncovers Racist and Homophobic Comments
Back in February, it was revealed that 16 police officers and three civilian staff were being investigated over whistleblower claims of “inappropriate and prejudiced” language and behaviour. An undercover operation in 2023 saw covert recording devices planted in the force’s Basingstoke investigation centre. The recordings allegedly caught officers making racist and homophobic remarks.
Freedom of Information Bid Blocked by Cost Excuse
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request was lodged to reveal more about the complaints that date back to August 2017 and the outcome of the ongoing investigation. Hampshire Police refused to hand over details, claiming it would be too costly to dig through the records.
A Hampshire Police spokesman said: “To identify complaints against staff at the Basingstoke investigation centre would require a large manual review, which is beyond the scope of the request. There is no way to search complaints by location, so all complaints from the period would need to be checked to see if they relate to that office and the investigation.”
Public Left in the Dark Over Serious Allegations
The force’s refusal to provide transparency has sparked outrage. Critics demand answers on why officers remain on full pay after serious claims and why taxpayers are footing the bill for a two-year-long probe shrouded in secrecy.
