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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Ted Hennessey

Police officer fired for ‘offensive’ texts about Traveller community

Police
  • Detective Constable Mark Luker of the British Transport Police has been dismissed for gross misconduct.
  • The officer used derogatory terms, including “p*key”, in WhatsApp messages when referring to Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller people.
  • He also made comments linking the community to theft, which the panel deemed deliberate and discriminatory.
  • Luker claimed that the language was a coping mechanism after being a first responder to the 2017 London Bridge terror attack and that he did not intend to cause offence.
  • Despite accepting he was not 'inherently racist', the misconduct panel concluded that Luker likely knew the language was “offensive” to a minority community.

IN FULL

London Bridge attack hero sacked by police for using ‘p*key’ slur

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