A police officer who was forced out of Greater Manchester Police following an investigation into a 'racist' WhatsApp group has said he has been unfairly punished.
Ashley Feest resigned ahead of a disciplinary hearing which barred him from returning to policing and which concluded he would have been dismissed had he not already left. He admitted gross misconduct.
He was a member of a police WhatsApp group titled 'The Dispensables' and subtitled 'the gods of north Manchester who risk their lives every day to f*** jobs off'.
Racist and homophobic language was used on the group chat which was said to be dominated by another officer, PC Aaron Jones, who left the force in disgrace last year.
PC Feest was said to have referenced the illicit use of drugs on the group chat. He had also shared a 'racist' meme about slavery and he was also found to be positive for steroids when he was subject to a random drugs test by the force, the hearing was told.
Another member of the group PC Rebekah Kelly was dismissed without notice after the panel ruled she failed to challenge a vile racist slur her then boyfriend, PC Jones, had made to her separately.
A third police officer, PC Graham Atkinson, was handed a final written warning after the panel found he failed to challenge racist and homophobic comments on the group. The investigation also uncovered a video in which PC Atkinson mocked a Lithuanian man by appearing to speak a 'made up language'.
In a strongly worded statement following the hearing, Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Allen, head of GMP's Professional Standards Branch, said: “The conduct of these officers was a complete disgrace and it is fitting that three members of the WhatsApp group now find themselves barred from policing for life, with one also carrying a criminal conviction for offering to supply drugs.
“Whilst messages were sent across personal WhatsApp accounts, given the racist and homophobic content, in addition to other communications revelling in the misuse of drugs, any right to privacy these officers thought they had was ousted by their abhorrent conduct."
Mr Feest, in a statement released to the M.E.N., said he had been 'incorrectly labelled a racist, sexist and a homophobe' in the wake of the disciplinary hearing.
The former officer voluntarily appeared at the disciplinary hearing even though he had resigned from the force. He was not represented by a barrister, unlike the two other officers.
He said: "I shared on one occasion, an inappropriate and poorly thought out meme in a private encrypted chat. For that I apologise unreservedly. However, it was a joke, not my words, albeit a poorly thought-out one. I apologise wholeheartedly.
"I am sure that none of you would be happy for your private messages to be scrutinised with no context."
The former officer said the investigation into his conduct had been 'extremely intrusive' and he pointed out he had not set up the WhatsApp group or thought up its title and was not an administrator.
He said: "Were there jokes about illicit drugs? Absolutely, the very same jokes that are made in and around police stations every day."
He said he had 'never in my life taken recreational drugs' although he confessed he had been 'naive' in taking a course of anabolic steroids in 2019. It is illegal to sell steroids, a class C drug, although it is lawful to possess steroids.
However, police forces don't allow officers to possess drugs and any breaches can result in dismissal.
Mr Feest said he had wanted to be able to protect colleagues, especially female officers.
"I took steroids on one occasion. I did not realise that I was breaching a policy but I should have," he said.
He added: "I loved my job, I provided an exemplary service to members of the public and was a model police officer who prided myself on my professionalism and my commitment to the public. I conducted thorough investigations and ensured that convictions were achieved against those who presented a danger to others. The 30 character references (presented to the disciplinary panel) in relation to my service reflect this perfectly."
Mr Feest said he had been 'punished beyond reprieve for a lapse in judgement' and pointed out he was 'not responsible for the inflammatory comments and actions of others'.
The father-of-two, 40, added: "For my lapses in judgment, I apologise unreservedly. There are no words that can express my regret or my sorrow. I wish I could change them. Alas I cannot."
He went on: "It is important that police officers are treated fairly and impartially and on the full circumstances of any alleged misconduct. I would not wish for anybody to experience what I have for the last four years. I have been to hell and if I was not fortunate to have such an amazing wife and family I am not sure where I would be.
"I am not perfect, nobody is. I made mistakes, I've always been honest.
"To the general public, I am sincerely sorry that I let you down. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. I am not a criminal. I am not corrupt. At best I was a silly, silly boy. It was an honour to serve you.
"But the punishment has been disproportionate to the point that my current employer are now investigating matters that are four years old. I have two very young children.
"My reputation is unfairly in tatters and I am worried about my stability going forward for my family."
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