https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8z3rgkj7do
Officers have been issued with advice to improve their conduct after "degrading and inappropriate comments," were recorded on a phone seized during a man's arrest, an investigation has found.
The man was arrested at home in 2022 and his phone had been recording audio from before his arrest and throughout his time in custody.
After listening to the recording, the man submitted a seven-hour excerpt in which officers referred to a suspected victim of domestic violence as "mental", possibly suffering from "post-natal depression" and requiring "hospitalisation".
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said the "conduct of the officers fell short of the standards that we have set".
The officers had been unaware that the man's phone had been recording audio.
The Police Ombudsman recommended that the PSNI should hold misconduct meetings with all four officers.
This was not accepted by the PSNI's Professional Standards Department, which decided instead to hold a misconduct meeting with one officer and offer advice to the others.
As a result of the investigation, three police officers have been issued with advice to improve their conduct, while a fourth officer was subject to measures designed to improve performance.
Phone recording
The recording included "several concerning comments and revealed issues with how officers had dealt with the phone after it was seized at the time of the man's arrest", the Ombudsman report said.
The Chief Executive for the office of the Police Ombudsman, Hugh Hume, said: "While these comments were made by police officers outside of a public setting, they nonetheless reflect attitudes and behaviours that are entirely unacceptable.
"It is particularly concerning that such degrading remarks were directed towards a woman reporting to be a victim of domestic abuse.
"This serves as a reminder that police officers should always act with compassion, professionalism and integrity," Mr Hume said.
The investigation found that the mobile phone had not been packaged, labelled or stored in accordance with PSNI policy.
It had also been taken out of the police station while the complainant was in custody, and there was no clear record of its movements while in police possession.
Investigators also considered an allegation that an officer had encouraged a colleague to destroy the mobile phone out of fear it might be recording.
Another officer was heard to respond, "what a way to get sacked".
'Not representative of excellent work'
The officer who made the initial comment about damaging the phone was interviewed under criminal caution on suspicion of attempting, or encouraging someone else, to break the device.
A file was submitted to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) which directed that the officer would not be prosecuted.
In a statement, Det Supt Julie Mullan, from the PSNI's Professional Standards Department said it acknowledged the report findings.
She said police and the public expect officers to investigate incidents "fully, fairly and professionally".
"While in this instance the conduct of the officers fell short of the standards that we have set, it is not representative of the excellent work police officers carry out across Northern Ireland on a daily basis as we strive to keep people safe."
by YourDasSidePiece
15 comments
They call themselves “professionals” LOL 🤣
Are we surprised
But look at Blue Lights? They’re all sound and over worked. And they like Westlife, so they do.
Well colour me pink . Who’d have thought ?
PSNI reflects the attitude of loyalists and unionists in the north.
Fenians ❌
Women ❌
Irish culture ❌
Immigrants ❌
Bigotry and racism ✅
> As a result of the investigation, three police officers have been issued with advice to improve their conduct, while a fourth officer was subject to measures designed to improve performance.
“Don’t get caught next time”
Took the phone off site to try and have a good nosey through it no doubt. See what they could rustle up for their group chat
Imagine what they’re getting away with unchecked.
*”It had also been taken out of the police station while the complainant was in custody, and there was no clear record of its movements while in police possession.*
*Investigators also considered an allegation that an officer had encouraged a colleague to destroy the mobile phone out of fear it might be recording.”*
The fact that they’re just swanning about with a phone belonging to a member of the public, someone who is in custody should be a sackable offence on its own, nevermind conspiring to destroy it in case it’s recording. For a force that has a history of destroying murder weapons and burning down buildings to hide their crimes it’s beyond laughable they’re still doing anything like this, even on this level.
RUC 2.0
What was the advice? “Switch the phone off next time?”
They’re a joke of an organization. Zero accountability. This nonsense shows the complete lack of respect they have for us, yet they constantly greet and gurn that nobody respects them back.
Psni wankers at their usual stuff then
Most of them shouldn’t be anywhere near the police nevermind sensitive cases.
So the ombudsman made recommendations of disciplinary action and for 3 of them, the PSNI said “Nah, we’ll mark our own homework, thanks”?
Men are exhausting
Im going against the grain here . If someone genuinely is pnd they may well need hospitalisation or mental health treatment especially if they have suffered domestic abuse . The comments while flippant are not saying wow drama queen or liar they are saying this woman is in a horrible position and possibly needs mental health care and frankly that’s a professional stance to take
Not a shock at all. I’ve been on the receiving end of some real dickish comments from several police officers when reporting my ex. Far too many of them really don’t care and make it very clear in their conduct.
As a previous victim of DV, I can believe this. Different police force (NYPD) but same kind of dismissive attitude until my neighbours called them and an ambulance when they witnessed him throw me out a window and put me in the hospital. Finally took me seriously when they attended the ER and took a report and casually offered me a ride home. They tased the ever loving shite out of him until he both pissed and shit himself. There really is no dignity left as a human being after that.
I will say: of all the years I have dealt with the PSNI, so basically since they’ve existed, they have been nothing but helpful to me, including the time I was SA’d by a Deliveroo rider. They had nothing to go on but my recall of his unusual first name and description, found him anyway, and pulled him in to the Musgrave Park cop shop and charged him.
One problem: I did watch them out the window the time they sent a bunch of guys in the armoured vans round to my neighbours’ place, where a guy was bashing in the front window and screaming “I’ll kill ye, ye bastard, ye bastard!” and they may like to stand around posing with their big rifles on those calls, but my God are they badly trained and unprepared to deal with an ACTUAL paramilitary threat…
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