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Charles Ehikioya said after his dismissal that he “categorically” denies the allegations
The head of the Met’s Black Police Association (MBPA) has been dismissed for gross misconduct over a group chat with a former officer in which racist, sexist and inappropriate messages were sent and received.
Charles Ehikioya, who was an inspector, was in the WhatsApp chat with former officer Carlo Francisco where the offensive messages were shared.
A panel hearing evidence this week found his conduct amounted to a breach of the standards of professional behaviour.
Speaking after the hearing, Mr Ehikioya said he “categorically” denied the allegations and was “dismayed” by the decision. He had argued the claims against him were fabricated due to his race or MBPA position. He intends to appeal.
Led by Cdr Jason Prins, the panel found Mr Ehikioya breached standards in respect of equality and diversity, discreditable conduct and challenging and reporting improper conduct.
Cdr Prins said the panel had decided the “appropriate and proportionate sanction” was dismissal without notice.
In more than 7,000 messages between 2017 and 2020, the officer was said to have sent and received jokes, pictures and videos, it was heard previously.
He allegedly sent an image of the late Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, with the comment “message from the other side, tell the Muslims there’s no 72 virgins left”.
There was also a series of racist messages about Chinese people, the hearing was told.
Jokes about sex with a girl with Down’s syndrome, and mockery of the late Duke of Edinburgh’s car crash, were also in the chatlog, as was a video in which there was a child with a naked bottom, the panel heard.
Addressing the media following his dismissal, Mr Ehikioya said: “I believe this outcome was manipulated to ensure a finding against me and is part of a deliberate campaign to smear my reputation.
“The process from the very beginning has been flawed and it is c
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