Police force investigated over officer’s ‘hateful’ texts

GWENT Police’s chief constable yesterday confirmed that the force was being investigated over “abhorrent” Whatsapp and Facebook messages between officers.

Pam Kelly said texts found on a dead policeman’s mobile phone, said to reveal racism, homophobia and sexual misconduct within its ranks, “paints a picture of a toxic culture” but did not “represent the majority of our force”.

Ricky Jones, who spent 26 years in Gwent Police, left behind an iphone containing thousands of Whatsapp and Facebook messages with 41 serving and retired officers after he took his life in January 2020.

They were discovered by his relatives, who shared them with The Sunday Times.

The messages openly talked about the sexual harassment of junior female colleagues, racist, homophobic and misogynistic abuse, the leaking of sensitive police material and corruption, according to the newspaper.

Yesterday Ms Kelly confirmed Wiltshire Police would independently investigate the force and look at messages on a mobile phone and tablet given to Gwent Police last month.

All MPS with constituencies within the force’s area of operations are also due to meet with her and the Police and Crime Commissioner today.

Ms Kelly said: “The content we have been made aware of is abhorrent and any officers identified by the investigation as having breached either professional standards or the criminal threshold will be held accountable.

“[We] recognise that in the past Gwent Police has not always lived up to the standards those reporting issues to us should expect.”