Police officers in Nottinghamshire, UK shared graphic details about the injuries of three murder victims via WhatsApp after they were stabbed to death by a man with schizophrenia.
The victims were two university students and a caretaker. One officer posted details of the injuries and police response in a work WhatsApp group, and another officer forwarded this message to his wife and friend.
The victims’ families were unaware of this data breach and were sickened to learn of the unnecessary sharing of sensitive details.
Emma Webber, a victim’s mother, said, “What an abhorrent way to conduct an investigation.”
“We cannot emphasise how painful this tragedy is for all our families, and to learn that there has been internal needless voyeurism of the vicious knife attacks on our loved ones is unforgivable,” she exclaimed.
“We were not, at any point, made aware of this data breach,” added Webber.
One officer received a final written warning after improperly accessing the suspect’s records.
The police force has said they dealt with the officers involved and reminded all officers of appropriate WhatsApp use.
Deputy Chief Constable Steve Cooper said, “Nottinghamshire Police’s Professional Standards Directorate (PSD) found one message posted on a WhatsApp group and took action immediately.”
“Some of the words were crude and distasteful. One officer faced a gross misconduct hearing chaired by an independent legally qualified chair in January 2024,” he continued.
“It was held in public at Nottinghamshire Police headquarters with both the media and members of the public in attendance,” explained Cooper.
“He was handed a final written warning by the independent legally qualified chair. After a thorough review by PSD, one other officer was subject to management intervention. No other officers were found to have committed misconduct.”
“It is vitally important that the public are made aware of any action by an officer who falls below the extremely high standards we set and that is why these misconduct hearings are held in public,” Cooper continued.
Adding, “All officers have been reminded of the appropriate use of WhatsApp as a result of this misconduct hearing.”
The independent police watchdog is also investigating the force’s prior contact with the suspect before the killings.
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