Metropolitan Police officer sacked over Facebook posts Published duration 23 June 2011

image caption The officer posted "deeply offensive" comments on Facebook in June last year

A police constable has been sacked for posting offensive messages about a colleague on Facebook and harassing a female colleague.

The 35-year-old Met officer, who was based in Islington, referred to another officer as a "grass" and a "liar" on the social networking site last year.

The officer was dismissed following an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

The IPCC said his behaviour had resembled a "nasty schoolyard bully".

The Pc posted the "deeply offensive" comments on Facebook on 18 June last year.

The officer had also been involved in a brief, casual relationship with a colleague, which ended acrimoniously in April last year.

'Completely dismayed'

The constable then sent the woman a series of abusive text messages and subjected her to verbal abuse and threats.

On one occasion, when both officers were off-duty, a member of the public was so concerned about the male officer's behaviour that he followed them off a bus and intervened when he saw him smashing a bin in the street.

The male officer then verbally threatened the member of the public.

The allegations were investigated by the Metropolitan Police's Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS), under the management of the IPCC.

A report was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which decided there should be no criminal proceedings.

The case then went before a gross misconduct hearing and the officer was found guilty of discreditable conduct and failing to meet police conduct standards of respect and courtesy.

He was dismissed without notice.

IPCC commissioner Rachel Cerfontyne said: "When I read what shocking things this police officer had written on Facebook about his colleague and the appalling way he had behaved, I felt completely dismayed.

"He worked in a job that demanded trust and respect and yet acted in a way that resembled a nasty schoolyard bully.

"I am pleased that the Met's misconduct panel clearly shared our view that this sort of person does not belong in the police service."

DPS acting commander Carl Bussey said: "The officer's behaviour was completely contrary to the standards I would expect of a member of the public, let alone a police officer.

"The DPS is here to ensure that the minority of individuals whose standards and behaviour fall to these shocking levels are properly investigated and appropriate sanctions given, so that everyone who works for the Met Police can work without fear, and the public only have officers with the highest level of integrity working for them."