Cambridgeshire Police Officer Dismissed for Discriminatory Remarks

A police constable with Cambridgeshire Constabulary has been dismissed from service following a misconduct hearing. PC James Roper was terminated after a disciplinary panel concluded he had violated professional behaviour standards by making discriminatory comments. The panel was informed that in December 2022, Roper engaged in an online forum discussion with a third party, where he posted discriminatory remarks regarding a news report about the rescue of immigrants from the sea. Considering the quantity of messages posted and the inclusion of a laughing emoji, the panel determined that Roper’s conduct was “deliberate and intentional.” The third party had stated: “Blood on the hands of government again. Horrible how we treat these desperate people.” Roper’s reply was: “Absolutely not my friend. They’re not our problem until they make it here so lets not help them. They all believe in ‘inshallah’ so if it is truly his will they will get here then they will get here. If it isn’t then their Deity clearly had other plans for them.” Roper acknowledged that he had breached the standards of professional behaviour but did not agree that his conduct constituted gross misconduct. On a separate occasion, in March 2023, during a conversation with an inspector, Roper was accused of using language that denigrated individuals with learning difficulties. The panel concluded that despite the term not being directed at another person and being self-deprecating, it was still “offensive and discriminatory.” Deputy Chief Constable Jane Gyford stated: “The language used by the officer was not only offensive but discriminatory and falls below what our communities expect from a police officer.” She added: “The conduct that this officer has displayed falls below policing’s professional standards, and it is important to show this finding to support the need to maintain public trust and confidence in the constabulary.” The two-day hearing, which took place last week in Sandy, resulted in the decision that Roper be dismissed from the force without notice.