Bedfordshire Police officers face misconduct hearing over alleged ‘racist’ and ‘homophobic’ messages
One serving and three former Beds Police officers will face a misconduct panel next week over alleged racist and homophobic messages in group chats.
PC Dean Pallett – along with PC Matt Knowles, from Herts Police – as well as former PCs Mark Paruit, Michael Gibbs and Matthew Taylor are accused of breaching police behaviour standards.
The hearing – which is expected to last all week – begins next Monday (November 16) and will consider allegations that, between December 2018 and May 2020, the officers were members of groups in which “sexualised, misogynistic, homophobic, racist, ableist [and] transphobic” messages, images and videos were shared.
The hearing notice alleges the officers and former officers breached professional behaviour standards relating to authority, respect and courtesy; equality and diversity; orders and instructions; discreditable conduct; and challenging and reporting improper conduct.
A police misconduct panel will consider the allegations on the balance of probabilities, whether the officers’ actions amounted to gross misconduct – and whether to take any action against them as a result.