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A Home Office immigration official has been suspended after posting "vile and deplorable" racist content on a WhatsApp group with former police officers. Rob Lewis, an ex-Metropolitan Police officer w...
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The Telegraph
2022-10-06T07:18:14Z
A Home Office immigration official has been suspended after posting "vile and deplorable" racist content on a WhatsApp group with former police officers.
The racist messages were uncovered by BBC Newsnight and included racist and derogatory chat about flooding in Pakistan, the Government’s Rwanda policy and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
The Home Office suspended Mr Lewis within hours of being told about the messages, which it described as "vile and deplorable". It said it had "a zero-tolerance approach to anyone displaying racist or discriminatory behaviour".
Mr Lewis declined to answer questions about the group and its content.
Several of the members of the WhatsApp group are said to have worked for the Diplomatic Protection Group (DPG), a specialist operations branch of the Met that guards the Houses of Parliament and protects ministers.
The unit has since changed its name to the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection (PaDP).
The messages were revealed by Dave Eden, a former member of the DPG, who is said to have been on the WhatsApp group since its creation in 2016. Mr Eden, who says he has never posted in the group, passed the messages to the BBC.
"There are references to black politicians, which are extremely unpleasant," he said. "The entire undertone is one of racism and misogyny."
Mr Eden, a police officer for 27 years who retired in 2010, said he had collected evidence showing prejudice in British policing throughout his time in the profession.
He said he had submitted material he had gathered to the Angiolini Inquiry, which is investigating the murder of Sarah Everard and police culture.
"This group tells me that the culture of the Metropolitan Police hasn't changed. And in fairness, it's not just this group, it's other groups. It's what I'm hearing out of the mouths of ex-colleagues. And what I'm witnessing all the time," said Mr Eden.
The Home Office said it had suspended a member of staff following allegations of gross misconduct. "We expect the highest standards of our staff and have a zero tolerance approach to anyone displaying racist, homophobic, misogynist or discriminatory behaviour. Where we are made aware of such behaviour we will not hesitate to take decisive action," it said.
The Metropolitan Police said it had contacted Mr Eden's representatives in the spring when it first learnt about the messages, "but they declined to share further details". It said: "We urge them to reconsider so we can take action."
Mr Eden told the BBC: "I don't trust the system, but would welcome speaking to someone of a senior rank."
Sir Mark Rowley, the Met's new Commissioner, said his plan for reform "is already under way". "I will be ruthless in rooting out those corrupting officers and staff, including racists and misogynists, from our organisation," he said.
"I have taken over as the leader of an organisation that has been far too weak in taking on those who undermine the honest and dedicated majority, who determinedly serve the public.
"That will change and I will continue to seek out those, from both within and outside the Met, with that constructive anger who can help us reform."
Commander Jon Savell, responsible for professional standards, said: "These messages are abhorrent and have absolutely no place in policing or society.
"Their behaviour erodes the confidence that the public has in the police - a confidence that the vast majority of us in the Met works tirelessly day-in, day-out to maintain and improve.
"Racism, misogyny, homophobia or any other discriminatory behaviour has no place in the Met.
"Where such behaviour is identified it will be dealt with robustly, but we will also be actively seeking out those whose actions bring shame to us.
"We contacted Mr Eden’s representatives when these messages first emerged in April but they declined to share further details. We urge them to reconsider so we can take action. In the meantime we appeal to anyone who has information about such behaviour to make contact."