Seventh Met Police officer sacked over BBC Panorama investigation

A Metropolitan Police constable who expressed discriminatory views about Muslims has become the seventh officer at Charing Cross police station to be sacked following a BBC investigation.

The Met said PC Sean Park also claimed to pretend not to see the alleged excessive use of force by another officer, who is said to have stomped on a detainee’s ankle.

October’s Panorama program showed officials calling for the shooting of immigrants, celebrating the use of force and dismissing rape claims.

Commander Simon Messinger called the comments and actions “appalling”, and said it was “right that he has now lost his job”.

Scotland Yard said PC Park was found guilty of breaching the standards of professional conduct for authority, respect and courtesy, disrespectful conduct, challenging and reporting inappropriate conduct and equality and diversity.

As well as failing to challenge the stamping on a prisoner’s ankle, he also failed to challenge the discriminatory views of previously dismissed PC Martin Borg.

PC Brian Sharkey was also due to face a hearing on Wednesday, but according to the Met, “the BBC has once again disclosed additional unreleased footage to the IOPC at extremely short notice… which has now been shared with the Met”.

He faces trial in February.

The previous dismissal due to the same program was that of Sergeant Lawrence Hume, who said a prisoner “deserved a beating”. He was dismissed on 7 November.

On 28 October, Sergeant Clayton Robinson was sacked after a panel heard he had dismissed a woman’s allegation as “frivolous” during a rape investigation and had “mocked the victim” by singing along to another officer.

PC Jason Sinclair-Burt was sacked on October 24 after he was secretly filmed “boasting about and celebrating the use of force” on a detainee.

A day earlier, Sergeant Joe McIlvaney, PC Philip Neilson and PC Martin Borg were sacked after charges of gross misconduct were upheld.

Sergeant McIlvaney was filmed dismissing a pregnant woman’s accusation of rape and domestic violence against her partner and making misogynistic comments.

PC Nielsen was recorded referring to an “invasion” of “scum” from the Middle East, and made offensive comments about people from Algeria and Somalia.

Sergeant Steve Stamp will also face a hearing as part of the Met’s expedited misconduct proceedings in the wake of the October 1 broadcast.