Between December 2018 and March 2019, two serving police officers exchanged racist messages via whatsapp; their contents are so offensive that they have not been reported in express terms by the media.
The misconduct proceedings were unusually complex. Both officers asserted that the messages had been obtained by the police unlawfully and, consequently, that the proceedings should be stayed/dismissed. During a four-day hearing, a Police Misconduct Panel rejected the officers’ arguments and found the messages to have been lawfully obtained and used. The Panel went on to conclude that the messages “contained appalling racist comments which were egregious in nature and content. The corrosive effect of such racist gross misconduct upon public confidence in policing cannot be understated.”
Both officers were dismissed without notice.
https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/detective-constable-north-yorkshire-police-racist-messages-sacked/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-64983225