Nottinghamshire custody sergeant barred after telling detainee to 'go home'
Officer dismissed for discriminatory remarks to British citizen of Iranian descent at Mansfield station
Incident → evidence → outcomeA Nottinghamshire Police custody sergeant was dismissed and barred from policing after telling a detainee to 'go home' and 'get on a boat and go back to where you come from' during a transfer to court. The incident occurred on 19 November 2025 at Mansfield police station, as reported by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
The detainee, a British citizen of Iranian descent, was being escorted to a prison van for transfer to Mansfield Magistrates' Court. The officer, whose name has not been released due to medical grounds, was found guilty of gross misconduct at an accelerated hearing on 2 September 2026. Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable Steve Cooper chaired the disciplinary panel.
IOPC investigation and findings
The IOPC launched an independent investigation after Nottinghamshire Police referred the case on 27 November 2025. Concerns were raised by a colleague about the sergeant’s treatment of the detainee. The IOPC reviewed CCTV footage from the custody suite, which captured the interaction.
The footage showed the detainee making disparaging comments about England while delaying boarding the prison van. The officer walked around the custody desk, grabbed the detainee’s jacket, and made the discriminatory remarks. The IOPC also examined the officer’s training records, custody records, and policing policies.
“Officers face challenging situations daily, but it is never appropriate to resort to racially discriminatory comments. As a police sergeant, he held a supervisory position and with that comes an elevated duty to exercise self-control and model appropriate behaviour.”
The disciplinary panel found the officer breached professional standards on equality and diversity, authority, respect, courtesy, and discreditable conduct. The officer claimed his remarks were not racially motivated but a response to the detainee’s rudeness. He accepted his words were 'inappropriate' and acknowledged the impact on Nottinghamshire Police’s reputation.
What happens next
The officer has been placed on the barred list, preventing him from working in policing again. The IOPC has not indicated further action, but the case remains a matter of public record. Nottinghamshire Police has not commented beyond the disciplinary outcome.
Questions this report answers
01What did the officer say to the detainee?
The officer told the detainee to 'go home' and 'get on a boat and go back to where you come from' during a transfer to court. The remarks were captured on CCTV and led to his dismissal, as reported by the IOPC.
02Why was the officer dismissed?
The officer was dismissed for gross misconduct after breaching police standards on equality, respect, and conduct. The IOPC found his discriminatory remarks unacceptable, particularly as a supervisory officer.
03Can the officer work in policing again?
No. The officer has been placed on the barred list, meaning he cannot work in policing again. This followed the misconduct hearing chaired by Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable Steve Cooper.
04What role did the IOPC play in the case?
The IOPC investigated after Nottinghamshire Police referred the case. They reviewed CCTV footage, training records, and custody documents, leading to the misconduct finding and dismissal of the officer.
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