![\"Whatsapp,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0_Whatsapp-Facebook-Snapchat-and-other-phone-Apps-on-iPhone-screen.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAvon & Somerset officer asked partner to falsify Universal Credit application<\/p>\n
The officer sent racist and misogynistic memes on WhatsApp(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n
An Avon & Somerset police officer has been sacked without notice for sending \u2018appalling\u2019 and \u2018disturbing\u2019 racist and misogynistic memes, including one using domestic abuse as humour.<\/p>\n
PC Luke Hurst texted discriminatory views about \u2018foreigners\u2019 and the absence of white people in an area he was driving through, a police misconduct hearing was told.<\/p>\n
He also tried, but failed, to persuade his then-partner to submit a fraudulent Universal Credit claim saying they were not living together when they were to get more money.<\/p>\n
The panel found the officer, based in Bridgwater, committed gross misconduct.<\/p>\n
He was dismissed and placed on a barred list preventing him from working in policing or other law enforcement.<\/p>\n
PC Hurst, who did not attend the one-day hearing at force headquarters in Portishead<\/a> and gave his Police Federation rep no instructions to offer any mitigation, admitted all the facts and breaches of standards of professional behaviour as alleged<\/a>.<\/p>\n He accepted the memes and Universal Credit application amounted to gross misconduct but argued that a third allegation of starting a second job at a factory months before the constabulary gave approval, and then worked way beyond eight hours a week as instructed, reached the level of misconduct only.<\/p>\n But panel chair Craig Holden disagreed and gave a ruling of gross misconduct in all three.<\/p>\n The constable sent WhatsApp messages to his then-partner in February and April, 2025, asking her to submit a false Universal Credit application, the hearing was told.<\/p>\n In a statement to police, the woman said: \u201cLuke tried to encourage me to lie about him still living in the house and to say that he had moved out so we would be able to claim more money.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t do this as I was not willing to be dishonest \u2013 this is something that would worry me.\u201d<\/p>\n Barrister Mark Ley-Morgan, representing the force, said the officer claimed he only asked his partner to say they were not living together because their relationship had already ended and he was in the process of moving out over the next few months.<\/p>\n But Mr Ley-Morgan said PC Hurst told her: \u201cYou can back-date it \u2013 it\u2019s free money.\u201d<\/p>\n The barrister said: \u201cSo it\u2019s not true that he did it because he was preparing to move out.\u201d<\/p>\n He said that between February 15 and March 28, 2025, PC Hurst sent three racist memes to a friend on WhatsApp, replied to one expressing the view it was funny, sent a misogynistic meme, and expressed discriminatory opinions about \u2018foreigners\u2019 on Facebook<\/a> Messenger.<\/p>\n Mr Ley-Morgan said a search through PC Hurst\u2019s phone found numerous memes that were racist, misogynistic and\/or ablest.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cThe memes are appalling and some of them are disturbing.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is difficult to believe that anyone could find them remotely amusing.\u201d<\/p>\n In the officer\u2019s written response to the allegations, he said: \u201cI accept that when shared publicly these messages present me in a poor light.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Ley-Morgan said: \u201cThat\u2019s the understatement of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n PC Hurst\u2019s statement added: \u201cThe messages were always part of a private conversation with close personal friends and were never meant to be seen by anybody else.<\/p>\n \u201cWe share a similar sense of humour.<\/p>\n \u201cI am not a racist or misogynistic person and these messages do not represent views that I hold.\u201d<\/p>\n On September 17, 2025, the constable applied for a business interest for a second job working as a transport coordinator at a factory.<\/p>\n