A SECOND West Mercia Police officers has been sacked for sending racist messages on Whatsapp.
The officer, referred to as Officer X for legal reasons, had conversations via social media messaging with another officer which included racist comments and images.
An anonymity order on the second officer, referred to as Officer A, has been lifted and he can now be named as Jak Walshaw, 49.
The conversations also included derogatory comments and discussed abhorrent violence.
A gross misconduct hearing held today (Tuesday) upheld the allegations.
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Walshaw, a sergeant based at Malinsgate Police Station, sent racist, homophobic and inappropriate memes.
He also had content on his personal mobile phone and inappropriate, racist and offensive content on the work mobile phone issued to him.
It was found the unnamed officer's conduct amounted to serious breaches of the Standards of Professional Behaviour in respect of authority, respect and courtesy, equality and diversity, and discreditable conduct.
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Walshaw and the other officer were suspended before later being fired.
Assistant chief constable Rachel Jones said: “Both officers engaged in abhorrent conversations, and quickly after Officer X was identified as being involved, he was suspended from duty.
"I want to reiterate my comments made after Jak Walshaw was dismissed that we will continue to root out those views who do not uphold our strong values of inclusion, equality and diversity and whose behaviour has no place in policing.”
The anonymous officer, a PC based in Telford, will now be added to the College of Policing Barred List, preventing him from ever working in UK policing.
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