Met police sent home after rifle snaps posted online

POLICE officers have been sent home from Cop26 after allegedly taking pictures of themselves posing with their sniper rifles.

Officers from across the UK have been drafted in to help police the large volume of protesters in Glasgow.

Last night, the Metropolitan Police confirmed three officers had been ordered to return south of the Border.

A spokesman said: ‘The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) were made aware of concerns raised in relation to a photograph allegedly of a specialist operations officer whilst deployed in Glasgow. The photograph allegedly shows him posing with a firearm whilst on duty.

‘The DPS reviewed this and recommended an officer be subject to a misconduct investigation. This will be managed locally by their Operational Command Unit.

Three officers have returned to London from deployment in Scotland.

‘The DPS has found no evidence that any other Met police officers were involved in the making or posting of the photograph on social media.’

A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘We are aware of images which were posted on social media by an anonymous, nonofficial police account. The officers involved have been referred to their home force.’ It is understood that the images of the officers have now been removed from social media.

Lawyer Aamer Anwar told the Daily Record: ‘It’s grotesque that individuals who are supposedly in place to protect life should be conducting themselves in such a manner. Some of these officers appear to think they’re up here for a jolly.’