Metropolitan Police officers shared ‘racist, misogynist and Islamophobic’ messages in WhatsApp group with Wayne Couzens

Get Nadine White's Race Report newsletter for a fresh perspective on the week's news Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Prosecuting, Edward Brown QC said the group contained “a close-knit group of” seven police officers who had transferred from the Civil Nuclear Constabulary to the Metropolitan Police. Other posts saw chat participants joking about police performing sex acts on domestic violence victims, with PC Cobban writing: “That’s alright, DV victims love it… that’s why they are repeat victims more often than not.” Mr Brown said police officers “should represent a safe haven for victims of domestic abuse”, rather than making “dismissive and derogatory comments” that can undermine their willingness to report crimes. He told the court: “Right thinking members of the public would be grossly offended not just by the comments themselves but to know that it was serving police officers who discussed, among other serving police officers, their colleagues and the citizens they are supposed to serve in the terms used in these messages, often in an enthusiastic and encouraging manner with no dissent.” All three defendants refused to answer questions verbally when interviewed and provided pre-prepared written statements. PC Neville said his remarks on Muslims were a “poorly judged joke”, adding: “I do not believe that every Muslim is a terrorist … I do not mean these comments literally.” Mr Borders said his post about raping a female police officer was “very dark humour which I appreciate may offend some people”, but insisted he was “always professional on the job and when dealing with victims”.