A police constable has been fired from the Met after making “appalling” discriminatory comments towards Black officers on his team.
A misconduct panel heard that PC Caswell used language and acted in a manner that belittled, mocked and humiliated officers.
Between 2019 and 2021, Toby Caswell was alleged to have made discriminatory comments and asked a colleague “why don’t you go back to your own country?”.
He sprayed disinfectant on one PC’s trousers, and deliberately called another’s phone at inappropriate times such as during briefings, the panel heard.
The Met launched an investigation after concerned colleagues reported PC Caswell’s behaviour.
The misconduct hearing, which concluded on Wednesday and was headed by an independent legally qualified chair, found PC Caswell breached the police standards of professional behaviour “in respect of equality and diversity, authority, respect and courtesy and discreditable conduct”.
It found PC Caswell guilty of gross misconduct, and he was on Wednesday fired from the force without notice.
His dismissal comes just a day after the publication of a damning report into the Met by Baroness Dame Louise Casey, which found the force to be “institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic” and laid bare a series of failings and appalling incidents.
Chief Superintendent Andy Carter, responsible for policing Camden and Islington at Central North Command Unit where PC Caswell worked, said: “PC Caswell’s behaviour towards his three fellow officers was appalling and he has quite rightly been dismissed.
“I am very sorry that his colleagues had to endure this behaviour and I welcome the fact that multiple officers reported PC Caswell’s conduct so swift action could be taken.
“Everyone in the Met is clearer than ever that we must root out those who corrupt the integrity of our organisation.”
PC Caswell will now be added to the Barred List held by the College of Policing. Those on the list cannot be employed by police, local policing bodies (PCCs), the Independent Office for Police Conduct or Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.
