Met sacks officers over ‘dead birds’ messages

TWO police officers who took photographs of murdered sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman and referred to them as “dead birds” in messages, have been formally dismissed from the force.

Pc Jamie Lewis, 33, and Pc Deniz Jaffer, 47, who are already facing prison sentences over their actions, were found guilty of gross misconduct at a police disciplinary hearing.

Jaffer had already resigned from the force but Lewis was dismissed following a Metropolitan Police tribunal.

Neither Lewis nor Jaffer attended the misconduct hearing, and neither disputed the evidence.

Helen Ball, the Assistant Commissioner, who chaired the hearing, said that both men had committed gross misconduct.

Earlier this month the pair pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office after taking photographs of the crime scene and the victims in June last year.

The officers admitted using their phones to take images of the bodies of Miss Smallman and Miss Henry.

Lewis sent a Whatsapp message that said: “[I’m] sat next to two dead birds with stab wounds.”

The tribunal ruled that the two officers breached six established police standards.