Met inspector 'subject of racism in messages'

The head of Metropolitan Police's Black Police Association (MBPA) was the subject of a racist fabrication of WhatsApp messages, a misconduct hearing was told.

Insp Charles Ehikioya is accused of being in a chat with former officer Carlo Francisco where racist, misogynistic, homophobic and pornographic messages were sent and received.

The officer, who is the full-time chairman of the MBPA and could be fired if the claims are proved, is currently on restricted duties.

He denies the claims and says the messages were either fabricated or falsely attributed to him because of his race or position at the MBPA, the hearing was told.

Mr Francisco was in a separate group chat where Insp Ehikioya was the subject of racism from colleagues in November 2016, the hearing at Palestra House in London was told.

Nicholas Yeo, for the inspector, said terms "intrinsically linked" to slavery in the US in the 1800s were used.

"PC Francisco may not have been motivated in a way in terms of a strict motivation but it is quite clear that he was part of a vile, racist group that wanted to do the officer [Insp Ehikioya] great harm for no reason other than his race," said Mr Yeo.

In 2023, Mr Francisco was separately found guilty of gross misconduct over the messages shared in that group along with seven others, including some which made fun of Katie Price's disabled son Harvey.

He was dismissed in July 2022 for "an unrelated matter" involving "discreditable conduct", the Met said.

Mr Yeo said: "There was a motive to do harm and that is the officer's race."

He added that Insp Ehikioya is not a racist person and has dedicated his life to fighting racism and may have been targeted because of this.

James Berry, representing the Met, said in his closing argument the suggestion the messages were fabricated by Mr Francisco was "plainly nonsense" because of an absence of motive.

Mr Berry accepted there were "vile racist messages" by some members of the Whatsapp group about Insp Ehikioya but said that "does not amount to a motive to try to end his career".

He told the hearing after Insp Ehikioya's phone was seized by police on 18 October 2021, there were more than 357,000 WhatsApp messages deleted in total, and the full interaction between him and Mr Francisco was "likely" among them.

Mr Berry added: "We say that this is a clear case of gross misconduct based on the nature and volume of deplorable messaging in this case.

"Gross misconduct is conduct that would in principle justify dismissal.

"The officer fairly confirmed that there is no place in the Metropolitan Police Service for any officer sending or receiving without challenge the messages in this case."

The hearing is due to conclude on Friday.

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