Two police officers committed gross misconduct after they posted “offensive and inappropriate” TikTok videos at the height of the pandemic, a misconduct panel has found.
Police constables Amy Taylor and April Cooper, of Cambridgeshire Police, were on duty when they made a clip about coronavirus that was “insensitive to the many thousands who have suffered”.
They also recorded themselves “shouting offensive language” in a police car.
In another clip, both officers were in full uniform in a police station dancing in an "inappropriate way utilising fire marshal tabards".
The “unprofessional” videos were reported by a member of the public to the force in April.
Chief Constable Nick Dean criticised the officers for being insensitive to the families who had lost a loved one to coronavirus.
In that particular video, with the caption “when calling in sick at work and they ask what's up”, PC Cooper appeared in uniform shouting "coronavirus" down the phone.
Mr Dean said: “This clip was made in the height of a pandemic which is still ongoing yet you appear to be insensitive to the many thousands who have suffered and the vital role that emergency services and other agencies played in this outbreak, and continue to do so.
"This clearly shows a lack of respect and sensitivity to those that were suffering or indeed their families and friends.
"This brings the service into disrepute and damages public confidence.
"You did not treat the public or your colleagues with respect or courtesy."
Mr Dean accepted that the officers were motivated by a need to “boost morale” but added "some of the clips presented cannot in any way be seen to do this".
He said that the reach of the videos on TikTok had been “extensive” but that the officers took “immediate action” to remove the clips once highlighted to them.
“I accept that in hindsight that you both have accepted that you did not consider the wider implications of your actions at the time, however there is no doubt in my mind that the clips have damaged the reputation of this Constabulary,” Mr Dean said.
A misconduct panel found the officers’ actions amounted to gross misconduct and they were both given a final written warning.
