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  • A cop in south Wales was subject to disciplinary action over social media comments on anti-racist movement Black Lives Matter, and another for sharing body worn video footage.
  • The Freedom of Information response was given to voice.wales by journalists at openDemocracy following their investigation into “sickening” social media abuses.
  • Netpol reacted: “These attitudes don’t just stay on social media, they are reflected in policing on the streets.”

By Mark S Redfern. Cover Image by Tom Davies

New details have emerged about the social media conduct of South Wales Police officers, according to a Freedom of Information supplied to voice.wales by openDemocracy.

The release shows cops have been disciplined for comments and photos on dating sites, including one concerning a homeless refuge and the inappropriate contact with a vulnerable individual. 

No detail was given about the specific punishment handed out but voice.wales understands that all officers who faced misconduct investigations in the data remain in the force. 

In the data, ranging from 2018 to November 2021, one citation also is described by SWP as being for social media comments about the Black Lives Matter movement “perceived as adverse, insensitive, and inflammatory”. 

Cops in south Wales have routinely sought to stamp out antiracist activism in and around Cardiff, as previously reported on voice.wales. 

Their efforts include prosecuting protestors for shining torches at police, slapping a BLM organiser with a now-overturned covid fine, and a botched attempt to recruit an informant inside BLM Swansea.

According to the data, one cop received disciplinary action for “[b]ody worn video shared on social media”, raising questions over the lack of security regarding officer’s access to their bodycam footage. 

The Mohamud Hassan justice campaign has been fighting the force for the release of bodycam footage of Mohamud’s arrest in Roath, Cardiff on an evening in late January 2021. The events that day are alleged to have contributed to Mohamud’s death after being released the next day without charge.

The footage has yet to be released despite public pressure.

“Inappropriate comments made about female officers in a group chat” feature in the disclosure too, echoing recent revelations of sexist internal WhatsApp chats of Metropolitan Police officers.

The release also brings up worrying signs of abuse of power. Two allegations are described in vague terms by the force: “Images sent of officer in uniform and communication with a vulnerable individual”, and alleged contact on social media between a cop and “an individual they did not know which made the individual feel uncomfortable.”

Another allegation detailed an “[i]nappropriate image posted to a dating site by an officer” prompting similar concerns of predatory behaviour amongst SWP officers towards members of the public.

A slap-on-the-wrist was given for an “[i]nappropriate image posted on social media regarding a homeless refuge building”, particularly troubling after Operation Purple Ash in 2017. The initiative was in force to combat what the police allege was “aggressive begging” which resulted in Section 35 expulsion orders being given out en masse to homeless people in Cardiff, as well as handheld breathalysers given to off-licence workers.

“Inappropriate and unprofessional” comments were also made on social media “about an upcoming conduct hearing of another officer”. Dates were not given for each of the comments and details of the conduct hearing in question were also not supplied in the release.

Two counts of “[i]nappropriate comments surrounding COVID-19 made on social media” were also included in the list of comments disciplined. Another case saw “images breaching COVID regulations” alongside an “inappropriate image of the officer in uniform”.

OpenDemocracy also sent requests for information to Gwent Police and North Wales Police which held no data on file. Dyfed Powys Police supplied that there were no disciplinaries for social media conduct handed out to officers between 2018 and November 2021. 

A spokesperson from Netpol, the Network for Police Monitoring, told voice.wales: “This Freedom of Information disclosure is a reflection of the institutional racism and sexism that’s embedded in the police from across the UK.”

“These attitudes don’t just stay on social media, they are reflected in policing on the streets. Black people in Wales are seven times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people.”

“However, the comments about Black Lives Matter movement are particularly disturbing in relation to the death of Mohamud Mohammed Hassan following his detention by South Wales Police in 2021.”

Netpol added that Mohamud “was released from custody with blood on his clothes and bruises all over his body. He said he was kicked in the head, had his knee dislocated and had significant injuries to his mouth.”

“Urgent action is needed to ensure that those from marginalised communities feel safe on the streets from the police officers who are supposed to protect them.”

The head of South Wales Police Professional Standards Department, Chief Superintendent Danny Richards, told voice.wales: “Recent cases have demonstrated why it is so important for every officer and member of staff to maintain the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.”

“All police officers pledge to uphold the Standards of Professional Behaviour and Code of Ethics. The force employs a workforce of some 5,000, and the vast majority of our staff and officers demonstrate the highest levels of conduct at all times.”

Ch Supt Richards continued: “South Wales Police takes allegations of misconduct extremely seriously and will thoroughly investigate those who fail to uphold the highest standards of professional behaviour.”

“Unacceptable behaviour undermines the trust that the public place in our service as well as the efforts of the vast majority of officers and staff who work hard to keep our communities safe.”