Gross misconduct proven for former officer at Charing Cross

A misconduct hearing has found gross misconduct proven for a former officer for his unacceptable behaviour at Charing Cross police station.

Former PC Brian Sharkey, attached to Central West Command Unit before he retired, made comments that showed a clear lack of empathy towards victims of sexual assault and rape. He also made unprofessional and discriminatory comments about members of the public.

He was found to have breached standards of professional behaviour in relation to authority, respect and courtesy, discreditable conduct, and equality and diversity.

As a former officer the only sanction available was that he would have been dismissed had he still been serving. Having heard all the circumstances of the case, including representations from former PC Sharkey, the chair of the hearing did not impose this sanction.

The proceedings, on Friday 13 February, bring to a conclusion the eight accelerated misconduct hearings scheduled following the appalling behaviour demonstrated by a number of officers on BBC Panorama in October.

Seven serving officers have been dismissed, as well as the finding against former PC Sharkey.

Last month Gloucestershire Constabulary also held a hearing for a former officer who was working for the Met at the time Panorama was filmed and made comments supporting inappropriate use of force against detainees. He had transferred to Gloucs in March 2025. The hearing found he would have been dismissed had he not already resigned in November 2025.

Commander Simon Messinger, Professionalism, said: “The actions of those featured in the programme have a clear impact on the trust and confidence the public have in us to act with integrity and professionalism and keep people safe while in our care. It is absolutely right these officers are no longer in the Met.

“Their dismissals come in the context of the Met’s wider and determined efforts to raise standards, which has seen more than 1,400 officers and staff leave the organisation in the last three years.

“We are supporting the ongoing IOPC investigation while our own work continues at pace to address the cultural issues in the Met that created an environment where these abhorrent views could be seen as acceptable behaviour.

“It will enable the good people in our organisation to thrive as they serve to protect London while ridding us of those who have absolutely no place being here.”

All those subject to hearings, apart from former PC Sharkey, are being placed on the Barred List held by the College of Policing to prevent them re-joining the police or being employed by other related bodies.

Since Panorama, we have worked hard to deal with the issues raised, including disbanding the custody team at Charing Cross and making changes to local leadership. Wider work continues including around training and regular staff rotation.

The IOPC investigation has widened since Panorama due to examination of BBC footage that was not broadcast. The IOPC made the Met aware of these matters to assess and refer back to them as appropriate:

• A PC, attached to Central West Command Unit, will face a misconduct hearing on 1 April for alleged inappropriate comments about use of force against a detainee. He is suspended from duty.

• Two officers are under criminal investigation. One is a former PC previously attached to Central West Command Unit who featured in the documentary and has already been dismissed. The second is a Sergeant, attached to Central West Command Unit, arrested by the Met on 2 October on suspicion of perverting the course of justice relating to a incident at Charing Cross police station and linked to matters disclosed in BBC Panorama. The Sergeant is suspended and on bail.

• Two more officers, both attached to Central West Command Unit, are being investigated for gross misconduct - a PC for inappropriate comments on use of force, and a PC for also making inappropriate comments on use of force as well as about a female member of the public. They are both suspended from duty.

• Following an IOPC witness appeal, a Sergeant, attached to Central West Command Unit, is being investigated for potential gross misconduct for alleged inappropriate and sexualised comments about women and failing to challenge similar behaviour by junior officers. He is suspended from duty.

An IOPC investigation also continues for a Sergeant, attached to Met Detention, featured on BBC Panorama. He was originally due to face an accelerated misconduct hearing but, due to further enquiries, now remains under gross misconduct investigation. He is suspended.