By Gabriel Princewill-
Five former Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers have pleaded guilty to sending ‘grossly offensive racist messages’ messages on WhatsApp, following a longstanding campaign by this publication for racists officers to be prosecuted and not just disciplined internally.
The officers, who retired between 2001 and 2015, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (September 7), where they pleaded guilty to 19 offences under Section 127(1) (a) of the Communications Act 2003.
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Trevor Lewton, (pictured) of Swansea, South Wales, who retired from the Met in August 2009, pleaded guilty to one count of sending grossly offensive racist messages
Robert Lewis, who retired from the Met in May 2015, has since been sacked by the Home Office from his post with the Border Force
Sacked by Home Office for racism: Robert Lewis
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The Eye Of Media.Com tirelessly campaigned for police officers caught circulating racist messages to face prosecution.
This led to a showdown with The Home Office on one occasion in our bid to push for this change, after one of their press representatives rudely dropped the call during our investigation into the evasion of applying statutory laws to racist police officers.
The Home Office subsequently pledged to apply the full weight of the law on racist police officers
We also called for warnings of prosecution to accompany vetting procedures in the force, communicating with police chiefs across the country to strive towards achieving this goal.
Police chiefs across the country responded to this call, now ensuring full accountability and serving as a more effective deterrence against racism in the police force.
Now since the major shake up by Sir Rowley, racist officers are facing the music before a judge in the court of law, in what is a major progress moving forward.
Commander James Harman, who leads the MPS’s Anti-Corruption and Abuse Command, said of the five officers in this case: “The racist and discriminatory content of these messages is absolutely appalling and, given the defendants once served as police officers, we recognize that this case may further damage confidence in policing.
“Colleagues across the Met will be disgusted to know that these men once served in the force and will be pleased to see the outcome today.
“I hope this case also demonstrates our commitment to take all allegations of criminality and misconduct seriously, investigate those reports thoroughly and where we have evidence of discrimination and abuse to bring criminal charges against individuals against individuals wherever we can.”
Peter Booth, 66, of Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, pleaded guilty to four counts of sending by public communication grossly offensive racist messages. He retired from the MPS in April 2001.
Robert Lewis, 62, of Camberley, Surrey, pleaded guilty to eight counts of sending by public communication grossly offensive racist messages. He retired from the MPS in May 2015.
Anthony Elsom, 67, of Bournemouth, Dorset, pleaded guilty to three counts of sending by public communication grossly offensive racist messages. He retired from the MPS in May 2012.
Alan Hall, 65, of Stowmarket, Suffolk, pleaded guilty to three counts of sending by public communication grossly offensive racist messages. He retired from the MPS in June 2015.
Trevor Lewton, 65, of Swansea, has been charged with one count of sending by public communication grossly offensive racist messages. He retired from the MPS in August 2009.
A sixth man, Michael Chadwell, 62, of Liss, Hampshire, appeared at the same court and pleaded not guilty to one count of sending by public communication grossly offensive racist messages.
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