Met Police officers ‘mocked Katie Price’s son Harvey’ in ‘toxic’ WhatsApp group

METROPOLITAN Police officers created a "toxic" WhatsApp group to mock Katie Price's son Harvey, a misconduct hearing was told.

The vile group chat was used to exchange racist, sexist, homophobic and transphobic content, a panel heard.

Two serving and six former Met officers were brought before the hearing over discriminatory content written in their WhatsApp group chat called 'Secret Squirrel S**t'.

The officers involved are former Police Sergeant Luke Thomas, ex Police Sergeant Luke Allen, former PC Kelsey Buchan, former PC Lee South, former PC Darren Jenner and former PC Carlo Francisco.

PC Glynn Rees and another officer who has been granted anonymity - Officer B - are both still serving on the force.

Katie Price's son Harvey Price, who suffers from Prader-Willi syndrome and autism, was frequently mentioned, with officers cruelly poking fun at the 20-year-old.

TV personality Price posted a picture of a letter detailing the misconduct on her Instagram story on Friday.

In the letter, which was addressed to Price and dated January 26, an investigator informed her that "a number of Metropolitan Police officers are alleged to have breached Standards of Professional Behaviour".

They said it related to "a WhatsApp group chat that has posted inappropriate and derogatory images of your son, Harvey Price".

Barrister Dan Hobbs told the misconduct hearing, held at the Empress State Building in West Brompton, West London: "It is the appropriate authorities' case that each individual allegation amounts to gross misconduct.

"He [former Police Sergeant Luke Thomas] makes comments in relation to Harvey Price, the mixed heritage, disabled son of Katie Price.

"It's nasty and unpleasant.

"[Another] post showed an innocent picture of Harvey Price kissing his mother on the cheek.”

A vile comment was then made about the love life of disabled people.

The group described disabled people using vile derogatory terms.

The most senior member in the group was former Police Sergeant Luke Thomas and Mr Hobbs told the misconduct panel that some of his comments "taken individually" amounted to gross misconduct.

Mr Hobbs added that the case was likely "the clearest case of gross misconduct" the panel, chaired by Mr Christopher McKay, would ever see.

Former Police Sergeant Luke Thomas had resigned after the WhatsApp group was leaked, and admits misconduct for each allegation and the allegations amount to gross misconduct.

The panel also heard that members in the group posted racist, sexist and homophobic messages.

The barrister also outlined occasions when former Police Sergeant Luke Thomas posted anti-Semitic, transphobic and sexist content to the Secret Squirrel Shit chat.

The former Met sergeant is also said to have suggested the names of his "favourite" prolific serial killers for his new dog.

The misconduct hearing was also told that Thomas had frequently been disrespectful towards female colleagues.

Three former officers - Thomas, Allen and South admit gross misconduct for all allegations.

Former officer Francisco admits gross misconduct for the first allegation and misconduct for the other two.

Serving officer Rees and former officer Buchan admit misconduct for all allegations.

Officer B denies the first allegation and admits misconduct for the second and third allegation.

Former PC Jenner has not engaged with the misconduct hearing and the police have taken that to mean he does not admit either misconduct nor gross misconduct.

The misconduct hearing is expected to run until the end of the week.

Jackie O'Sullivan of learning disability charity Mencap, said: “These allegations are absolutely appalling, and we stand alongside our ambassador Harvey and his family against this unacceptable behaviour.

"Far too many people who bully or abuse people with a learning disability face no consequences for the harm they cause.

"How would these officers feel if it was their child being mocked and belittled?

"We can’t live in a society where this kind of abuse is tolerated, and we will continue to work with Harvey and his family to address stigma and discrimination against people with a learning disability.”