First Wave of Met Police Misconduct Sackings

By Tony O’Reilly-

Three Metropolitan Police officers have been immediately dismissed for gross misconduct, following their exposure in an undercover report by BBC Panorama. Sergeant Joe McIlvenny, Police Constable Philip Neilson, and Police Constable Martin Borg faced accelerated misconduct hearings on Thursday over secret filming aired on the television program. Each officer vehemently denied the specific allegations of gross misconduct, yet all three accepted making the offensive and discriminatory comments that the program broadcast. Upholding the allegations against all three officers, the panel ruled their immediate dismissal was necessary.

BBC A composite image of hidden camera stills showing three people: from the left, Sgt Joe McIlvenny, a man with a shaven head and a grey beard, wearing a police uniform and a lanyard round his neck; PC Martin Borg, a man with dark hair and a dark beard, wearing a leather jacket; and PC Phil Neilson, a man with short brown hair wearing a grey hoodie in a pub with a pint of Guinness in front of him.

A composite image of hidden camera stills showing three people: from the left, Sgt Joe McIlvenny, a man with a shaven head and a grey beard, wearing a police uniform and a lanyard round his neck; PC Martin Borg, a man with dark hair and a dark beard, wearing a leather jacket; and PC Phil Neilson, a man with short brown hair wearing a grey hoodie in a pub with a pint of Guinness in front of him. Pic: BBC

Commander Jason Prins, who chaired the panel, unambiguously described the conduct of the officers as a “disgrace.” He stated that the “abhorrent” nature of the comments should have been “obvious” to them at the time they were made. Prins specifically emphasised that Sergeant McIlvenny’s conduct was “exacerbated” because he held a leadership position as a Police Sergeant. These decisive dismissals mark the first outcome of accelerated misconduct proceedings initiated by the Metropolitan Police Service.

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A total of ten current or former officers are scheduled to face similar hearings over the coming week following the highly damaging investigative footage. The force made a promise to hold these misconduct hearings “at the earliest opportunity,” according to Met Police professionalism Commander Simon Messinger, upholding that commitment with this initial wave of Met Police Misconduct Sackings. These firings signal a zero-tolerance approach to bigotry within the ranks.

The specific allegations against the three officers detailed widespread racism, misogyny, and a celebration of excessive force. Sergeant Joe McIlvenny, who had served with the Met Police for nearly 20 years, was secretly recorded making dismissive remarks about a pregnant woman’s allegation of rape and domestic violence against her partner. When a detention officer questioned his decision to release the man on bail, mentioning the suspect was also accused of kicking the woman in the stomach, PS McIlvenny was recorded replying only, “That’s what she says.”

Further footage captured the sergeant making blatantly misogynistic comments while on duty at Charing Cross police station. McIlvenny attempted to argue that the reporter “groomed and exploited my vulnerable state,” claiming the full context of his conversations was missing from the broadcast. He also told the panel he had been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) since the program aired, requesting a reduced, non-public-facing role instead of immediate termination.

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PC Philip Neilson was filmed using vile language, referring to an “invasion” of “scum” from the Middle East, and making other profoundly offensive comments targeting people from Algeria and Somalia. Shockingly, the PC also suggested a detainee who had overstayed his visa should have a “bullet through his head.”

Neilson also faced allegations for “glorifying” what he described as the inappropriate use of force on a restrained detainee and for suggesting unlawful violence against migrants. He argued his comments were only “just misconduct,” claiming the undercover reporter “kept bringing up these conversations” and “egging me on,” particularly when he had consumed alcohol.

Cdr Prins found all allegations proven; however, ruling that Neilson’s words caused “significant harm” to the reputation of the Metropolitan Police, noting that the officer’s conduct amounted to an “utter disgrace.” These three Met Police Misconduct Sackings reveal systemic issues that the force must urgently confront.

PC Martin Borg, also operating out of the Charing Cross Police station, became the third officer to be dismissed on Thursday. An undercover BBC reporter recorded PC Borg enthusiastically describing witnessing another officer stomp on a suspect’s leg while in custody. The officer was filmed laughing about the incident, admitting he had offered to provide a false statement claiming the suspect had kicked the sergeant first, despite CCTV footage not confirming the assertion.

James Berry KC, presenting the case for the Met, highlighted that the Panorama program showed Borg “revelled in the use of force on detainees” and made several overtly discriminatory remarks directed at Muslim individuals. Borg, denying he was a racist, admitted making the recorded comments, again arguing he had “been groomed over a series of months” by the undercover reporter.

Ultimately, the panel found five of the eight allegations against him proven as gross misconduct, securing his dismissal. Cdr Prins concluded that Borg alone was responsible for his “abhorrent” comments, which caused “significant harm” to public confidence in policing more generally.

The Metropolitan Police, which serves over nine million Londoners and employs more than 34,000 officers, has acknowledged the deep public concern caused by the shocking footage. Commander Messinger confirmed the force has since replaced the entire custody team at Charing Cross station and implemented significant changes to local leadership structures.

Further institutional work continues across all detention teams in the Met to identify any other areas of concern and root out inappropriate behaviour. Seven more current or former officers must face misconduct hearings in the coming week, continuing the process of accelerated accountability.

These numerous Met Police Misconduct Sackings confirm the need for systemic change beyond individual disciplinary actions. The force maintains that these expedited hearings are a commitment to transparent and swift action in the wake of the damaging investigation.