Two more Metropolitan Police officers serving at Charing Cross have been dismissed from the force for what the Met described as “appalling comments and attitudes”, following misconduct hearings that found multiple allegations against them proven.
The dismissals bring the total number of serving officers who have lost their jobs to 13 since an investigation was launched by the Independent Office for Police Conduct in October, in the wake of BBC Panorama’s Undercover in the Police.
Rape comment to female colleague
A hearing for PC Mason O’Connor, attached to the Central West Command Unit, was held on Tuesday, 15 September. The hearing heard that while off-duty in a pub in October 2024, he said to a female colleague: “I hope you get raped on your way to Waterloo.”
The matter was reported after the Panorama programme aired, as part of what the Met described as a proactive wider investigation into any other concerns about officer conduct at Charing Cross.
The panel found the allegation proven, and ruled that O’Connor had breached standards of professional behaviour in relation to authority, respect and courtesy, equality and diversity, and discreditable conduct.
“Hated” homeless people, enjoyed using force
Allegations were also proven against PC Lloyd Hunter, also attached to the Central West Command Unit, at a hearing on Wednesday, 27 August. During an off-duty drink in November 2024, he made comments that trivialised the use of force, suggested he would enjoy using force on members of the public, and said that he “hated” homeless people.
According to the Met, Hunter’s comments were caught on camera by the BBC. Although the footage was not featured in the broadcast, extra unaired material was later shared with the IOPC, whose investigation into the behaviour of a number of officers at Charing Cross continues.
Hunter was found to have breached the same standards of professional behaviour: authority, respect and courtesy, equality and diversity, and discreditable conduct.
Met: “a very clear message”
Commander Simon Messinger, the Met’s lead for professionalism, said: “Two more officers have now been dismissed for their appalling comments and attitudes.”
“I hope this sends a very clear message about the standards we expect from all our officers and the Met’s determination to improve our culture across the organisation,” he added.
“We continue to support the ongoing IOPC investigation.”
Both officers will be added to the College of Policing’s barred list, preventing them from rejoining policing or working for a number of other police-related bodies.
An ongoing clean-up
The latest dismissals are the most recent in a rolling series of disciplinary outcomes at the Central West Command Unit since Panorama’s undercover investigation into officer behaviour at Charing Cross station aired. The IOPC investigation continues, meaning further hearings and outcomes may follow.
The force has repeatedly said it is determined to root out officers whose conduct falls below the standards expected, and the rising count — now 13 dismissals — underlines the scale of the disciplinary fallout.
