Herts Police officers face misconduct hearing over alleged ‘racist’ and ‘homophobic’ messages
Two current officers and three former Herts Police officers will face a misconduct panel next week over alleged racist and homophobic messages in group chats.
PC Matt Knowles and PC Dean Pallett, as well as former PCs Mark Paruit, Michael Gibbs and Matthew Taylor are accused of breaching police behaviour standards.
The hearing, which will last from Monday, November 16 to Friday, November 20, will consider allegations that, between December 2018 and May 2020, the officers were members of groups in which “sexualised, misogynistic, homophobic, racist, ableist [and] transphobic” messages, images and videos were shared.
The hearing notice alleges that the officers and former officers breached professional behaviour standards relating to authority, respect and courtesy; equality and diversity; orders and instructions; discreditable conduct; and challenging and reporting improper conduct.
At the hearing, a police misconduct panel will consider the allegations on the balance of probabilities.
Members of the panel will consider whether the officers’ actions amounted to gross misconduct, and whether to take any action against them as a result.