West Yorkshire Police officer sacked over "racist and misogynistic" WhatsApp messages
The force began an investigation into PC Louis Hepplestone after it was alerted by the police watchdog
A West Yorkshire Police officer has been sacked over a "racist and misogynistic" conversation on WhatsApp.
PC Louis Hepplestone, who was based in Kirklees, was involved in the conversation with a colleague before the paid joined the force.
The messages came to light as part of a separate investigation into Detention Office William Lloyd-Hughes, who has since left West Yorkshire Police.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said even after becoming a police officer, PC Hepplestone failed to challenge offensive messages.
It said that included racist comments and a joke about rape, while Hepplestone also sent "misogynistic" messages about female colleagues.
The IOPC goes on to say PC Hepplestone was aware of Lloyd-Hughes' racist views, but failed to raise concerns about him.
PC Hepplestone admitted sending and responding to offensive messages at a gross misconduct hearing, as well as his failure to report the messages he received.
IOPC Regional Director Emily Barry said: “PC Hepplestone was part of a conversation in which vile and offensive messages were sent. His failure to challenge blatantly racist views or a joke about rape were a complete betrayal of the values he should have been upholding as a police officer.
“This investigation, carried out by WYP and directed by the IOPC, ensured he was held accountable for his actions. As a result he has been dismissed and barred from working in policing in future.
“Behaviour like this undermines the efforts of the vast majority of officers, who work incredibly hard in challenging circumstances to keep us safe. That is why it is so important for colleagues to challenge and report such views where they come across them.”
Speaking after the hearing Detective Chief Superintendent Nicola Bryar, of West Yorkshire Police’s Professional Standards Directorate, said: “There is no place in policing for the abhorrent attitudes displayed in the messages that came to light as part of this investigation.
“In failing to challenge racist and misogynistic language, the officer has brought discredit to the standards expected of him.
“West Yorkshire Police has signed up to the Police Race Action Plan and takes a zero-tolerance approach to any use of racist language by our officers, staff or volunteers.”
“Misogynistic behaviours and attitudes do not belong in our force.
“Officers have a duty to challenge such language and it is made clear that it is expected that they do so.
“We made a mandatory referral to the IOPC when the information in respect of this case first came to our attention.”