Derbyshire police officer sacked for ‘racist and sexist’ comments

Derbyshire Police HQ in Ripley, Derbyshire. Image by LDRS.

A Derbyshire police officer has been sacked after repeatedly making offensive “racist and sexist” comments on social media – despite several warnings.

Police constable Stefan Downs made a number of discriminatory comments in reference to black people, a misconduct hearing found.

The hearing’s report said one of his comments “condones violence to be used against a child”.

Derbyshire police’s top officer said PC Downs “was given a number of opportunities to change his behaviour” but he “failed to do so”.

Screenshots of comments released to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) showed the police officer of six years made several discriminatory comments in reference to black people.

Another inappropriate comment PC Downs made was in reference to the Hillsborough tragedy which saw 97 Liverpool supporters die in a fatal crush.

Derbyshire police said it was alerted to PC Downs’ social media comments by a member of the public.

PC Downs admitted to making the comments but denied breaching policing standards and that it amounted to gross misconduct. The report stated that during interviews PC Downs tried to justify “claiming he has the right to express his views freely”.

But the misconduct hearing concluded he should be dismissed without notice.

Derbyshire police’s Temporary Chief Constable Simon Blatchly said PC Downs was unsuitable for office.

In a statement after the hearing, he said: “As a policing service the public expect that we will police without fear, favour, or prejudice – and it is clear that Stefan Downs failed to uphold that expectation.

“His use of discriminatory language has no place in our force, and it is my determination that he is unsuitable to possess the powers of the rank of a police constable.

“These incidents were not the first time that Stefan Downs was spoken to about his use of social media and he was given a number of opportunities to change his behaviour. He failed to do so and continued a course of action that was clearly in contravention of our ethical and conduct standards.”

The misconduct hearing report stated that PC Downs had already been dismissed with notice but wished to retain his position “until his notice expires in order to receive further pay”.

Temporary Chief Cons Blatchly rejected that submission and concluded he should be dismissed without notice.

He said: “I need to send a very clear message that officers cannot use social media, even in their personal lives, to spread discriminatory and disrespectful attitudes.

“I cannot endorse this behaviour with anything less than the most serious action.”

Blatchly said he had been made aware that PC Downs reported he had mental health issues but said no medical evidence was provided.

Downs has a right to appeal the decision.