A Sad Day for East Area Policing

13th November 202613th November 2026 Francesca Lilleystone 0 Comments Chat Messages, East Area, Investigation, Police, Whatsapp min read

This is a sad day for East Area policing. There are, and continue to be, outstanding police officers working across East Area, and at The Havering Daily we see first-hand the fantastic work they do across our communities.

We work closely with officers across the three boroughs and see the level of commitment they bring to their jobs. Their dedication is clear, not only in the work they carry out but in the considerable time they spend engaging with residents and supporting the communities they serve.

That is why this latest situation is so deeply disappointing.

We thought policing had learned lessons from previous WhatsApp scandals and that these horrendous chat groups were a thing of the past. Yet here we are again, facing reports of alleged racist comments about white people, offensive remarks about domestic violence victims and messages reportedly celebrating the use of excessive force against prisoners.

These allegations are deeply disturbing. Such behaviour, if established, is among the lowest of the low and has absolutely no place in our society.

Officers who engage in this type of conduct bring the Metropolitan Police into disrepute, but they also risk dragging the reputations of dedicated officers and entire policing areas down with them.

Havering has some excellent police officers who work tirelessly for the public. Yet when individuals are alleged to have engaged in such disreputable behaviour, it is the wider policing family that feels the consequences.

Let us be absolutely clear: this type of behaviour has no place in policing. It has no place in our communities. And it has no place in our society.

We are approaching White Ribbon Month, when police officers and communities come together to challenge violence against women and girls. Against that backdrop, reports of officers allegedly making vile comments about domestic abuse victims are particularly difficult to comprehend.

How low can you stoop?

There are so many officers who give their time, energy and commitment to building relationships with the public. They work hard to earn trust, support victims and make our streets safer. Once again, those officers may find themselves having to rebuild relationships and reassure communities because of the alleged actions of others.

They deserve better. Our communities deserve better.

The allegations must be properly investigated, and those responsible, if misconduct is established, must be held accountable. But we must not forget the many good officers who continue to serve East Area with professionalism, compassion and dedication.