PC dismissed without notice for posting racist tweets

A serving police officer who posted a series of racist comments on social media has been dismissed without notice following a misconduct hearing.

PC Ruby Begum, who was attached to the Met’s Taskforce, was found to have breached the standards of professional behaviour with regards to discreditable conduct and equality and diversity at the level of gross misconduct.

She was dismissed without notice following the conclusion of the hearing on Wednesday, 23 October.

Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove, in charge of the Met’s Taskforce, said: “There is absolutely no place within the Met for anyone with racist or otherwise hateful attitudes.

“Our diverse workforce, made up of people from a range of backgrounds, makes us better able to reflect and serve the public. We are working hard to build a culture where anyone can feel welcome and thrive.

“Those who undermine these goals have no place in the organisation. They are not suitable to serve Londoners and will feel the consequences.

"The overwhelming majority of officers in the Met make a fantastic contribution to policing London, but we can only rebuild trust and continue to deliver the change that is needed by taking action, as we have today, to remove those within our ranks who do not share our values.”

PC Begum joined the Met as a Special Constable in May 2014 and became a PC in July 2016.

The misconduct hearing panel, led by an independent legally qualified chair, examined allegations that between 2013 and 2019 PC Begum posted a number of discriminatory and offensive comments on her Twitter account.

The posts remained visible on her account after she became a Special Constable and later a PC.

On 6 August 2021, after receiving information from the Mail on Sunday, the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards conducted a formal assessment and determined that a conduct matter should be recorded against PC Begum.

She was notified of the investigation and was initially placed on restricted duties. On 9 August 2022, she was suspended from duty.

The Met made a voluntary referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which determined that the matter should be investigated locally.

Following an investigation, which included officers reviewing 25,000 of PC Begum’s Tweets, it was determined that she had a case to answer for gross misconduct.

Following the hearing, PC Begum will now be placed on the barred list held by the College of Policing. Those appearing on the list cannot be employed by police, local policing bodies (PCCs), the Independent Office for Police Conduct or His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.