By Tony O’Reilly-
A Metropolitan Police officer has been sacked for racist comment towards one of his colleagues.
PC Luke Hunt, based within the North East Command Unit, has been sacked for making a racially offensive remark, further highlighting concerns about racism within the force.
PC Hunt directed the comment “shut up black boy” towards a colleague on a train following an officer’s leaving do at Dirty Martini in Liverpool Street on January 27 last year.
The incident unfolded when PC Hunt was told to “shut up” by a colleague he was interrupting.
In response, PC Hunt addressed his colleague as “black boy” twice and reiterated the directive to “shut up.” The offensive exchange was witnessed by two other police colleagues, sparking a subsequent misconduct hearing on November 8.
PC Hunt’s failure to apologize to his colleague by February 28 added to the gravity of the situation. The misconduct panel noted that PC Hunt made no attempt to seek out his colleague and ensure a meeting, raising questions about the officer’s commitment to addressing the issue.
During the hearing, PC Hunt admitted to using the racist term and expressed unconditional apologies to his colleague. He described the incident as a “stupid mistake” and a “bad error of judgment,” requesting a final written warning from the misconduct panel.
However, the panel found that PC Hunt’s actions constituted gross misconduct, breaching professional behavior standards. As a result, he was dismissed from the Metropolitan Police.
Chief Superintendent Simon Crick of the North East Command Unit emphasized the force’s commitment to high standards of behavior and explicitly stated, “We do not accept conduct of this nature which undermines confidence in our organization, and so it is only right that PC Hunt has been dismissed.”
PC Hunt’s dismissal adds to the mounting concerns about racism within the Metropolitan Police, with recent accusations branding the force institutionally racist.
This incident comes at a time when the force is under increasing pressure to address systemic issues and improve its approach to diversity and inclusivity.
The incident involving PC Hunt emphasises the importance of holding officers accountable for their actions, both on and off-duty.
It highlights the need for comprehensive training and cultural change within law enforcement agencies to eradicate racism and ensure that officers adhere to the highest standards of professionalism and respect.