Police misconduct panel sacks officer who shared “explicitly racist” FB posts

The Bristol Post reports on the sacking of a Chief Inspector at Avon and Somerset constabulary after he shared “explicitly racist” Facebook posts and “joined groups calling for Islam to be banned.”

Chief Inspector Steven Drew, of Avon and Somerset Constabulary’s specials, shared posts suggesting people who don’t stand for the national anthem should “go back to the country you came from”.

Drew also liked a social media page called “Ban Islam and Sharia Law” and a page from the far right group, Britain First.

Drew appeared before a police misconduct hearing last week where he was sacked for conduct found to bring the force into disrepute.

Barrister Robert Talalay referred to one post shared by Drew showing a crowd at a sports event, thought to be in the United States, standing for the national anthem. A woman, wearing a headscarf, remained seated in the picture, which was captioned: “If you can’t stand for the national anthem go back to the country you came from.”

Drew told the misconduct panel that he did not intend to come across as racist and that he was “rubbish” at social media.

He said he had shared the post about standing for the national anthem because he agreed with that but did not notice the full caption. He said he had liked the page Ban Islam and Sharia Law because he thinks Sharia Law should be banned, but that he didn’t agree with banning Islam.

“It was just the second bit I liked,” he told the panel.

Mark Loker, from the Police Federation, acting for Mr Drew, agreed some of the content shared was “abhorrent” but said Drew had “accepted what he’s done is wrong” and he “never intended to cause any offence.”

Mr Loker added that Mr Drew’s “liking” of Britain First was “irrelevant”, saying “There’s nothing to stop us being a supporter of them.”

The Bristol Post notes that Mr Drew’s social media activity came to light when a member of the police who is Facebook friends with Drew told officials he had posted “messages with extreme right wing views”.

Drew admitted to the misconduct panel that he held some prejudices, but said these were not directed against Muslims or immigrants.

The misconduct hearing ruled Mr Drew’s behaviour was “inappropriate, discriminatory and brought discredit on the force”. He has been sacked from his role in the police specials.