A Home Office immigration employee was suspended after a BBC investigation discovered he had shared racist content on WhatsApp.
It is believed that Rob Lewis, a former Metropolitan Police officer, started the group chat, which also included other former Metropolitan Police officers.
The Home Office described the messages as “vile and abhorrent.”
It stated that it has “zero tolerance for anyone exhibiting racist or discriminatory behavior.” Mr. Lewis refused to address queries regarding the group’s composition.
A member of the group chat has forwarded Newsnight dozens of messages, all of which have been shared with the group. Numerous photos are racist and too offensive to be displayed. Some include the most offensive racist slurs.
Some of the posters refer to the government’s Rwanda policy, while others make light of the recent flooding in Pakistan that killed nearly 1,700 people. In addition, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex appear in other memes alongside racist rhetoric.
‘Extremely uncomfortable’
Several members of the WhatsApp group once worked for the Diplomatic Protection Group (DPG), a specialized operations unit of the Metropolitan Police that protects the Houses of Parliament and ministers.
Since then, the unit’s name has been modified to the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection (PaDP).
According to Newsnight, active police officers were a part of the organization in question until recently, but a large number of them departed after Sarah Everard was murdered last year. Ms. Everard was murdered by Wayne Couzens, a fellow specialist branch member.
Former DPG member Dave Eden has been a member of the WhatsApp group since its inception in 2016. He claims to have never contributed to the group.
“There are highly offensive comments to black politicians,” he told. The entire subtext is racist and misogynistic.
Mr. Eden retired from the police force in 2010 after 27 years of service. Throughout this time, he has amassed evidence of bias in British policing.
A serving officer with the Met has also provided Newsnight with a racist photograph, which he claims has been circulating on WhatsApp in recent months. The photograph is too offensive to publish because it depicts black infants.
Another serving officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity to the BBC, stated: “These behaviors and attitudes cannot be eradicated from the Met, in my opinion.
“To demonstrate to coworkers that these behaviors and views have no place at the Met, individuals must be held accountable and punished as an example. I do not observe any significant progress within the organization.”
The Home Office announced in a statement that it has suspended an employee following allegations of serious misconduct.
“We hold our employees to the greatest standards and have a zero-tolerance policy on racist, homophobic, misogynistic, or discriminatory behavior. If we become aware of such conduct, we will not hesitate to take swift action.”
The Metropolitan Police stated that it had contacted Mr. Eden’s agents in the spring when it first became aware of the messages, “but they declined to provide any additional information.” In a statement to Newsnight, the organization stated, “We strongly urge them to reconsider so that we can take action.”
Mr. Eden said: “I lack faith in the system. I have little faith in professional standards or senior management, and if I were to ever communicate with the Met, it would be a person of the highest rank.”
Far too feeble
Sir Mark Rowley, the new commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, stated that his reform plan “is already underway.” He added: “I will eradicate from our organization all corrupt executives and employees, including racists and misogynists.
“I have assumed the role of leader of an organization that has been much too hesitant to confront those who undercut the sincere and devoted majority of individuals who serve the public with resolve.
This will change, and I will continue to seek out those within and outside the Metropolitan Police Department who have constructive anger and can help us reform.
Mr. Eden is ready to submit information acquired over the course of four decades to the Angiolini Inquiry, which is investigating the murder of Sarah Everard as well as broader policing issues.
He said: “According to this group, the culture of the Metropolitan Police Department has not altered. And to be fair, it’s not just one group, but other groups as well. This is what I am hearing from former coworkers. And what I am always observing.”
London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, stated: “When this type of inappropriate behavior has been uncovered, the Met has historically been much too weak and slow to act.
Sir Mark Rowley, the incoming commissioner, has told me that he intends to take a different approach.
He said that any officers found guilty of sexism, racism, misogyny, homophobia, bullying, or harassment did not deserve to wear the Met uniform and must be swiftly purged, assuring Londoners that he would hold the Met accountable.
