Two Met officers dismissed for offensive remarks

Two Metropolitan Police officers have been dismissed from their roles for off-duty misconduct. PC Mason O’Connor and PC Lloyd Hunter, both attached to the Charing Cross area, lost their jobs following an investigation led by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The dismissals follow findings that both officers breached professional standards.

Offensive Remarks Made Off Duty

PC O’Connor was found to have made an offensive remark to a female colleague in a pub. He stated, 'I hope you get raped on your way to Waterloo.' A misconduct hearing concluded that this comment breached professional standards concerning authority, respect, courtesy, equality, diversity, and discreditable conduct.

PC Hunter made inappropriate comments during an off-duty outing in November 2024. These included remarks that trivialised the use of force and expressed enjoyment at the prospect of using force against the public. He also stated that he 'hated' homeless people. These findings were made at a hearing on Wednesday, August 27.

Unaired footage from a BBC Panorama investigation was shared with the IOPC, which has been leading the inquiry into officer behaviour at Charing Cross. This investigation has led to the dismissal of 13 serving Met officers since it began in October.

Consequences for Future Employment

Commander for professionalism at the Met, Simon Messinger, stated that the dismissals send a clear message about expected standards and the force's commitment to improving its culture. Both PC O’Connor and PC Hunter will be added to the College of Policing’s barred list. This prevents them from re-joining policing or working for other police-related organisations.