Six serving and former officers with Dorset Police are to appear before a hearing next week concerning alleged gross misconduct.
They are alleged to have been members of a WhatsApp group in the summer of 2020 that was used to exchange messages that were discriminatory and/or offensive and/or inappropriate.
Several of the officers are alleged to have sent such messages and all the officers are alleged to have failed to report and/or challenge such messages
The messages came to light in 2022 and the force referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct who began an independent investigation.
This concluded in November 2023, finding that the officers did have a case to answer for gross misconduct.
Next Thursday’s hearing is open to the public and media and is expected to last four days.
Dorset Police has named the six as serving officers PS Kennie Wilson, PC Kate Trent and PC Mark Philpotts and former officers Special Sergeant Timothy Borrill, PC Matthew Williamson and PC Daniel Moore.
- Any member of the public or media wishing to attend must contact the Professional Standards Department to register their interest by emailing complaints-misconduct@dorset.pnn.police.uk before 4pm on Friday 10th January.