A Metropolitan officer was dismissed after a BBC expose, while a former Cambridgeshire sergeant was jailed for demanding a suspect's intimate video, highlighting a culture of abuse in UK policing.
The Metropolitan Police has now dismissed its thirteenth officer following a BBC Panorama investigation that recorded racist, misogynistic and violent rhetoric within Charing Cross station. PC Mason O’Connor was found to have breached professional standards when, off-duty at a pub in October 2024, he told a female colleague, “I hope you get raped on your way to Waterloo”.
The comment was reported through a witness appeal and triggered a “proactive wider investigation” after the documentary aired.
Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley described the footage as “vile to watch”, emphasizing that the unmistakable evidence would allow rapid disciplinary action. A disciplinary panel convened on Tuesday, confirming O’Connor’s gross misconduct and confirming his termination.
The Met also announced that the ongoing IOPC (Independent Office for Police Conduct) inquiry now includes fifteen additional officers or staff members, based on further footage supplied by the BBC that did not appear in the original broadcast.
Former Cambridgeshire sergeant sentenced for demanding a suspect’s private video
In a separate case that unfolded at the Old Bailey, former Cambridgeshire Constabulary sergeant Paul Street, 41, received a four-year custodial term after being convicted of two counts of misconduct in public office. The court heard that Street, who had become a television personality through documentaries on BBC and Channel 4, asked a colleague, PC Joshua Williams, to retrieve any “nudes” from a female suspect’s confiscated phone so he could show them to “the lads from footy”. The suspect, identified only as Ms X, later described the breach as a “gross violation of privacy”, noting that the material was deeply personal and never meant for public view.
Street’s conduct extended beyond the phone-sharing episode. Testimony revealed that he bullied a 17-year-old detainee, Robiul Islam, during a 2020 drug-related arrest, encouraging other officers to “hit him” and “smash his head in”. He also boasted on a WhatsApp group about using a baton on former Cambridge law student turned drug dealer Samuel Kayode, sending photos of the injuries to his girlfriend. While Street denied the assault charges, the jury found him guilty of the two misconduct counts, and he was barred from rejoining any police force.
Wider impact: investigations, suspensions and cultural change
Both incidents are part of what the IOPC has described as one of its largest investigations to date, involving fast-tracked disciplinary hearings for numerous officers across two forces. Commander Simon Messinger of the Met’s professionalism department stated that the dismissals send a clear signal about the standards expected of officers, and that the Met remains committed to cultural reform. He also confirmed that the investigations have already resulted in a mix of outcomes: two officers resigned, one was dismissed for gross misconduct, two received final written warnings, two more got written warnings, and five were managed through minor performance procedures.
The courtroom remarks from Judge Mark Lucraft KC underscored the broader societal damage caused by such behaviour, noting that citizens expect police to act “fairly” and that the conduct displayed by Street and his colleagues was “both appalling and inexplicable”. The judge warned that the use of personal messaging apps for official matters, especially when they contain vulgar or illegal content, undermines public trust and makes it harder for future investigations to succeed.
In the aftermath, the Met and Cambridgeshire Constabulary have pledged to enhance oversight of informal communication channels and to reinforce training on respectful conduct, data protection and the handling of personal devices. While the disciplinary outcomes signal a decisive response, advocates argue that sustained cultural change will require ongoing scrutiny, transparent reporting, and an independent body empowered to act swiftly when officers cross the line.
