Charles Ehikioya, Head of Met’s Black Police Association Dismissed for Gross Misconduct

Serious Misconduct Allegations Charles Ehikioya, former head of the Metropolitan Black Police Association (MBPA), has been dismissed for gross misconduct following a disciplinary panel’s findings related to offensive messages exchanged in a WhatsApp group chat. The messages, shared between 2017 and 2020 with former officer Carlo Francisco, included racist, sexist, and inappropriate content.

The panel, led by Commander Jason Prins, determined that Ehikioya breached professional standards related to equality, diversity, discreditable conduct, and failure to challenge improper behaviour. Among the messages was an offensive comment involving the late Playboy founder Hugh Hefner. Inspector Ehikioya sent an image of Hefner with the comment “message from the other side, tell the Muslims there’s no 72 virgins left”, a hearing at Palestra House in London was told on Tuesday., as well as jokes about individuals with Down’s syndrome and racist messages targeting Chinese people.

Cdr Prins described dismissal without notice as the “appropriate and proportionate sanction,” citing the content’s capacity to erode public confidence in policing.

Ehikioya Denies Allegations, Cites Discrimination Following the verdict, Ehikioya publicly denied the allegations, claiming they were fabricated due to his race and his leadership role in the MBPA. He stated that the disciplinary process was “manipulated to ensure a finding against me” and accused the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) of unfairly targeting Black officers.

He described the investigation as flawed, asserting that the case was part of a broader pattern where Black officers face disproportionate scrutiny within the force. “This misconduct case is just the latest in a long history of Black officers being disproportionately scrutinised and penalised,” he stated.

Andy George, president of the National Black Police Association (NBPA), supported Ehikioya on fairness grounds, criticising procedural irregularities and the delay in resolving the case, which originated in 2020. George clarified that NBPA’s support was not a judgement of guilt or innocence but rooted in concerns about fairness.

The History and Role of the MBPA The Metropolitan Black Police Association (MBPA) was established in 1994 to address systemic issues of racism within the Metropolitan Police and to support Black officers facing discrimination. The organisation advocates for fairness, equality, and the protection of officers from ethnic minority backgrounds within the UK’s largest police force.

The MBPA was created in the wake of high-profile cases of institutional racism, such as the Stephen Lawrence murder investigation, where systemic failings were widely acknowledged. The association plays a critical role in holding the Met accountable while also mentoring and supporting officers from underrepresented backgrounds.

However, Ehikioya’s dismissal raises broader questions about institutional bias and whether Black officers continue to face disproportionate treatment in disciplinary proceedings. While the Met has denied any racial bias in this case, it acknowledged that wider concerns about disproportionality in misconduct processes persist and require systemic reforms.

Ehikioya has announced his intention to appeal the dismissal, with the NBPA closely monitoring the outcome as part of its ongoing advocacy for fairness in the policing system.

 

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