Three officers dismissed for their ‘appalling’ conduct at Charing Cross

Sergeant Joseph McIlvenny, PC Martin Borg and PC Phillip Neilson each faced a fast-track misconduct hearing on Thursday (October 23).

Allegations against all three, that they breached standards of professional behaviour for authority, respect and courtesy, discreditable conduct and equality and diversity, were proven and they were dismissed without notice.

They will also be added to the Barred List held by the College of Policing to prevent them re-joining the police or being employed by other related bodies.

Commander Simon Messinger, MPS Professionalism, said: “Following the shocking and appalling behaviour shown on Panorama we were extremely clear where there was incontrovertible evidence we would hold misconduct hearings at the very earliest opportunity. It has seen three officers dismissed today for their disgraceful conduct.

“We have kept to our word and are grateful to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for their swift enquiries and decision-making that meant hearings could start today. More will be held over the next week.

“We have since replaced the custody team at Charing Cross, made changes to local leadership and wider work continues to identify any other areas of concern in detention teams across the Met. We are unrelenting in our drive to achieve the highest of standards across the Met.”

The BBC Panorama broadcast on Wednesday, October 1, showed Sgt McIlvenny, attached to MPS Detention, trivialising and mocking the account of a rape victim in conversation with another officer.

He was also seen advising a member of staff to not speak about use of force in front of custody suite cameras, making misogynistic and inappropriate comments about a female detainee and making grossly offensive remarks about a woman he encountered. All allegations against him were proven.

The programme showed PC Borg, attached to Central West Command Unit, making rude and Islamophobic comments about detainees and members of the public.

He said he joined the police “to nick people and get into scraps” and gloated and laughed about seeing another officer, a sergeant, using excess force and injuring a detainee.

Three of eight matters against PC Borg, relating to alleged discriminatory comments, were not proven as breaches of standards of professional behaviour.

The hearing heard PC Neilson, attached to Central West Command Unit, made highly derogatory and discriminatory comments about a number of people from different races and cultures.

He talked about deliberating trying to harm a young detainee who “deserved it”. All allegations against him were proven.

Further accelerated misconduct hearings for five serving officers and a former officer will be held on Friday (October 24) and Tuesday (October 28).

IOPC Director Amanda Rowe said: “The behaviour of these three officers and the discriminatory comments made – including misogynistic, Islamophobic and racist remarks – were inexcusable.

“As so many of us saw following the BBC broadcast, the evidence against PS Joe McIlvenny, PC Martin Borg and PC Philip Neilson was incontrovertible. This enabled us to decide that it was appropriate for an accelerated gross misconduct hearing to take place and to take swift action to ensure the Met had the evidence it needed to hold those hearings without delay.

“The behaviour of these officers, and its exposure, has damaged the public’s trust in the Met. Not only have they let down the public, but also the good officers who show up every day to serve Londoners. It is right that they have been quickly held to account, dismissed and barred from policing.

“While we note that several other Met officers await misconduct hearings following our investigation, today’s outcomes demonstrate that discriminatory behaviour will be investigated and dealt with swiftly and robustly.”

The IOPC said its investigation continues.