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| Police officers cleared in racism trial may face misconduct hearing | Police officers cleared in racism trial may face misconduct hearing |
| (4 months later) | |
| Two police officers cleared in court of racially aggravated harassment could still face disciplinary action after a watchdog found they may have a case to answer for gross misconduct. | Two police officers cleared in court of racially aggravated harassment could still face disciplinary action after a watchdog found they may have a case to answer for gross misconduct. |
| At Westminster magistrates court on Thursday, constables Kevin Hughes, 36, and David Hair, 42, were also found not guilty of using threatening words or behaviour to cause alarm and distress. | At Westminster magistrates court on Thursday, constables Kevin Hughes, 36, and David Hair, 42, were also found not guilty of using threatening words or behaviour to cause alarm and distress. |
| But on Friday the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) urged Scotland Yard to "seriously consider" its findings in relation to the case. | But on Friday the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) urged Scotland Yard to "seriously consider" its findings in relation to the case. |
| The IPCC commissioner Mike Franklin said: "The IPCC's investigation into alleged racist comments made by PCs Hughes and Hair concluded in June, when we passed our findings of potential gross misconduct to the Metropolitan police service for their consideration. I urge the Metropolitan police service to give serious consideration to the issues raised in our report. | The IPCC commissioner Mike Franklin said: "The IPCC's investigation into alleged racist comments made by PCs Hughes and Hair concluded in June, when we passed our findings of potential gross misconduct to the Metropolitan police service for their consideration. I urge the Metropolitan police service to give serious consideration to the issues raised in our report. |
| "Any misconduct hearing will need to determine whether the comments are a breach of the professional standards expected of police officers." | "Any misconduct hearing will need to determine whether the comments are a breach of the professional standards expected of police officers." |
| Hughes, of Brentwood, Essex, admitted saying a black man looked like a monkey but said it had nothing to do with his race and he was pointing him out during a discussion about evolution, the court heard. On Thursday the chief magistrate Howard Riddle found Hughes's language had been "unacceptable and offensive" but did not amount to a crime. | Hughes, of Brentwood, Essex, admitted saying a black man looked like a monkey but said it had nothing to do with his race and he was pointing him out during a discussion about evolution, the court heard. On Thursday the chief magistrate Howard Riddle found Hughes's language had been "unacceptable and offensive" but did not amount to a crime. |
| Hair, of Epping, Essex, stood trial for allegedly telling a black female colleague he thought she was going to rant about overtime and not do any because she was "going home to cook bananas". He said he was "mortified" when Hughes suggested the comment could be taken as having racist connotations. | Hair, of Epping, Essex, stood trial for allegedly telling a black female colleague he thought she was going to rant about overtime and not do any because she was "going home to cook bananas". He said he was "mortified" when Hughes suggested the comment could be taken as having racist connotations. |
| Riddle said: "In short, while the insulting nature of the comment seems obvious to many, I believe it was not obvious at the time to PC Hair. A person is only guilty of a section 5 offence if he intends his words to be threatening, abusive or insulting or is aware that it may be threatening, abusive or insulting." | Riddle said: "In short, while the insulting nature of the comment seems obvious to many, I believe it was not obvious at the time to PC Hair. A person is only guilty of a section 5 offence if he intends his words to be threatening, abusive or insulting or is aware that it may be threatening, abusive or insulting." |
| Both officers were suspended following the allegations, and Scotland Yard is now considering whether to take disciplinary action. Commander Allan Gibson, of the Met's directorate of professional standards, said: "As soon as the actions of these officers were brought to [our] attention, the matter was taken seriously and, following careful consideration, referred to the IPCC. | Both officers were suspended following the allegations, and Scotland Yard is now considering whether to take disciplinary action. Commander Allan Gibson, of the Met's directorate of professional standards, said: "As soon as the actions of these officers were brought to [our] attention, the matter was taken seriously and, following careful consideration, referred to the IPCC. |
| "The commissioner has made it quite clear that racism is not acceptable within the Met. This is a view supported by the majority of officers and staff. Now that criminal proceedings are complete, and it should be noted they have been found not guilty of any criminal offences, we will now consider misconduct proceedings." | "The commissioner has made it quite clear that racism is not acceptable within the Met. This is a view supported by the majority of officers and staff. Now that criminal proceedings are complete, and it should be noted they have been found not guilty of any criminal offences, we will now consider misconduct proceedings." |
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