Police used a secret online forum to make offensive comments about ‘pikeys’, it was claimed last night.

Scotland Yard is investigating reports that a private Facebook group, called ‘I’ve Met The Met’, was used to exchange racist views about travellers.

Anti-corruption officials were called in after some of the 3,000 members, who include serving and retired officers, raised the alarm.

Discrimination: A site in Cambridgeshire with up to 200 caravans and 1,000 travellers. File image used

Among the comments was a ‘joke’ about police being told to remove their shoes when entering a traveller’s caravan.

One contributor said: ‘Ha ha ha that’s only so they can nick them easier’.

Another user wrote: ‘I never knew a pikey could be offended.

‘I thought they were devoid of all normal feelings and thoughts ... just my opinion based on many years of dealing with these despicable people.’

A third member added: ‘There is not a small minority of criminals from the GT [gipsy and traveller] community – to all intents and purposes they all depend on crime.’

Attention was first drawn to the forum, which is hidden from public view and managed on an invite-only basis, three months ago. Named ‘I’ve Met The Met’ after a fondly remembered 1980s public safety promotion, it serves as an unofficial online forum for the ‘police family’.

But several racist comments appear to have been made during a light-hearted discussion of controversy over the use of the word ‘pikey’ on Top Gear.

The BBC Trust cleared Jeremy Clarkson and other presenters in March over the incident – although Clarkson was later sacked following a separate scandal in which he punched a producer.

The slang term, which refers to gipsies and travellers, was once widely used but is now considered unacceptable.

Both groups are officially recognised as ethnic minorities, meaning discriminating against them is illegal.

Yesterday, the force was urged to launch a wider review amid claims that racism against these groups has become ‘part of police culture’.

The Traveller Movement charity said the comments suggest a ‘canteen culture of racism towards gipsies and travellers’.

Its leader, Yvonne MacNamara, said: ‘The fact that they are potentially made by serving and retired police officers gives us no confidence at all in the Metropolitan Police’s ability to both police these communities and to attract and protect its own staff who are from gipsy and traveller backgrounds.

‘We believe that the Met must set up an internal review to look into the all-too common assumptions that all gipsies and travellers are criminals, and that they do not deserve the same quality of service and policing as any other members of our society.’

Meanwhile the Gypsy Roma Traveller Police Association – which represents officers from these backgrounds – said the alleged comments were a ‘sad indictment of the police service’.

Chairman Jim Davies added: ‘Racism towards gipsies and travellers is endemic and is part of police culture. It has been allowed to fester and spread unchallenged for years.’

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said concerns were first raised in April, and that officers from the force’s directorate of professional standards are investigating. One of their key tasks is to assess whether any of those who posted racist comments are serving officers.

'UNPROFESSIONAL AND INSULTING': LFB SLAMMED FOR HIPSTER TWEET A fire service was forced to apologise yesterday after tweeting that ‘no hipsters were injured’ in a restaurant blaze in Shoreditch. Critics said the comment about the fire in the trendy part of east London was ‘unprofessional and insulting’. London Fire Brigade’s Twitter page said: ‘Shoreditch restaurant blaze early this morning. Thankfully no hipsters were injured.’ London Fire Brigade has apologised for announcing 'no hipsters were injured' after fire ripped through a restaurant But street food trader Hank’s Po’ Boys replied: ‘Hard work and livelihoods ruined and you make a joke of it? Completely unprofessional and insulting to many people.’ The fire service apologised, saying: ‘Sorry if we caused any offence by using the term hipsters. Hope Shoreditch businesses are back on their feet soon.’ Thirty-five firemen and six engines attended the blaze at a pop-up restaurant at 3.45am yesterday. About half of the building was damaged. Local station manager Graeme Hunter said: ‘Thankfully there were no injuries. ‘Firefighters contained the fire and will remain at the scene throughout the morning damping down.’ Advertisement

The spokesman said they will investigate whether there have been any acts of misconduct or potentially criminal offences. He added: ‘If anyone is aware of behaviour in any setting, including online, that they believe falls short of the high standards we set for our officers or police staff we would encourage them to report it to us.’

The Equality and Human Rights Commission said it had received a similar complaint about the Facebook group and was ‘in discussion’ with force bosses.

It is not the first time the ‘I’ve Met The Met’ publicity campaign has been linked to controversy.

Two Scotland Yard officers faced disciplinary action during the London Olympics after attaching a sticker bearing the phrase to the van of another police force.

The latest allegations are an embarrassment for Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe.