Lambeth police officer given final written warning for homophobic email

A Lambeth police officer has been given his final written warning after sending a homophobic email to Metropolitan Police colleagues.

PC David Bewick was on duty when he used his Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) account to send 55 colleagues within the organisation an email and attachment with homophobic content.

The email, sent on 13 October 2019, was reported to the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) on October 30. PC Bewick, attached to the Met's Central South Command Unit responsible for Lambeth and Southwark, was placed on restricted duties.

Following an investigation by the DPS, a misconduct hearing which concluded last week found PC Bewick breached the standards of professional behaviour in respect of Authority, Respect & Courtesy; Discreditable Conduct; Duties & Responsibilities; and Equality & Diversity.

Chief Inspector Matt Cox, DPS, said: "The Met will not tolerate the sharing of any material that could be deemed as discriminatory and it is especially shocking when Met systems are used for this purpose.

"We expect all of our officers to uphold our high standards of behaviour and will take action when those standards are not met."