Diplomatic Protection police officers sacked for sending 'obscene images'

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Two police officers from Scotland Yard's Diplomatic Protection Group have been sacked for sending obscene images from their mobile phones.

The pair, aged 34 and 36, lost their jobs after admitting gross misconduct and being found guilty of a breach of integrity by force bosses.

The constables were dismissed without notice after the misconduct hearing on Thursday. They were not named by the Metropolitan Police.

Another officer from the Diplomatic Protection Group, James Addison, was sacked in June as part of the same investigation for sending “disgusting and offensive” porn to his colleagues.

He was fined £6,000 in May after he admitted 11 counts of publishing an obscene article at Westminster Magistrates' Court the previous month.

A total of 14 officers were investigated for either criminal offences or misconduct after the porn was found. No more criminal action will be taken and the matter has been concluded.

Detective Chief Superintendent Alaric Bonthron said: “The sharing of these images is completely unacceptable. Officers are expected to uphold the standards of the Met Police and when they fail to do so they will be investigated.

“Where officers fail to act within the law it undermines the trust and confidence the public have in the service as a whole.”

Addison, from Rayleigh in Essex, faced an internal investigation over the aftermath of the Plebgate row, but a hearing found the case against him was not proved.

PA