Problems continue for the Met Police after an officer was forced to resign and another fined 13 days’ pay over an incident in which a man was racially abused at a South London police station.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) managed the investigation into the incident, which occurred at Plumstead police station in July 2005, after the complainant was arrested.
The news comes after a court ruled last week that the force broke health and safety laws when officers shot dead innocent Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes in 2005.
Following the investigation into the racism allegations, a Met Police misconduct panel required PC Wayne Bell to resign for three breaches of the Police Code of Conduct.
He was found to have breached the code on politeness and tolerance for referring to the complainant in a racist way, and bringing the Metropolitan Police into discredit.
A second officer, PC Neil Wakeling, was required to resign for failing to oppose the behaviour and also failing to report it. His penalty was reduced to a reprimand and fine following a review of the decision.
IPCC commissioner Mehmuda Mian Pritchard said: “We welcome the decision. There is no place for racism in the police service.
“The Police Service has clearly taken on board the seriousness of the case and imposed an appropriate penalty.”