Police officer given final warning over racist language

He was found to have used racist language while in conversation with a colleague

A Greater Manchester Police officer has been issued with a final written warning following an Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation into allegations that he used racist language.

Police Sergeant Philip King has been found to have used the language during a conversation with a colleague which was caught on his body worn camera.

The matter came to light when Greater Manchester Police were carrying out a separate criminal investigation back in February 2018, when they reviewed the footage.

An investigation by IOPC in August 2018 found evidence of a case to answer for gross misconduct for using language to describe members of the public which breached the standards of professional behaviour.

IOPC Regional Director Amanda Rowe: “Racist behaviour or use of racist language has no place in policing, or any organisation. The vast majority of police officers uphold professional standards and show respectful behaviour. In this matter, that was clearly not the case.

“Where there is concern that a police officer or member of staff may have behaved in a way or used language that is discriminatory, it is right that it is investigated and their actions are held to account.

“I can only hope that the decision to give PS King a final written warning means that he is expected to learn from this, and ensure he and others understand this should not happen again.”

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