Shocking footage has emerged of police officers at Norfolk Constabulary engaging in unprofessional and derogatory conversations, including discussing whether they would have sex with suspects and making sex jokes.
The footage, which was recorded by a body camera, reveals officers making mocking vomiting sounds and laughing about a suspect who they 'sent flying' onto the road.
A female officer can be heard asking her colleagues if they think a suspect is 'hot or not,' while a male officer asks, 'Would you?' in an apparent reference to whether they would have sex with the individual.
A male officer also says, 'I'm trying to work out if they're fit or not,' while another officer describes being 'just warming myself up for a nice treat' when accessing the footage.
The footage came to light after Gemma Barnes, a 36-year-old animal rights activist, was arrested at Bethel Street Police Station in Norwich on January 14, 2023.
Barnes had been protesting with a group of demonstrators who were calling for a man to be charged with killing a pigeon.
When Barnes challenged an officer who she said pushed her into a busy road, she was arrested and her body camera was confiscated.
However, 11 months later, Barnes was given back her body camera and discovered the shocking footage that had been recorded by the officers.
Barnes told Metro that she was shocked but not surprised by the footage, saying, 'I know these are the sort of conversations they have. I was shocked and I was angry and I was disgusted, but I wasn't surprised.'
The police officers involved in the footage have been subject to misconduct processes, and the force has reviewed arrest and stop and search records for the officers involved.
However, the force has also stated that it is currently reviewing the footage further and will not comment further on the matter while that assessment is ongoing.
The footage has raised concerns about the behavior of the police officers involved and the potential impact on public confidence in policing.
The police are supposed to be impartial, and the behavior of the officers in this case falls short of what the public would expect to hear.
Barnes is now suing Norfolk Constabulary for wrongful arrest, malicious prosecution, assault and battery, and trespass to goods.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is also reviewing the case, and the force has stated that it will continue to investigate the matter.
The footage has sparked outrage and calls for greater accountability and transparency within the police force.
The police are supposed to serve and protect the public, not engage in unprofessional and derogatory conversations.
The behavior of the officers in this case is unacceptable and undermines public confidence in policing.
The police force must take action to address this behavior and ensure that officers are held accountable for their actions.
The public has the right to expect high standards from police officers and staff, and the behavior of the officers in this case falls short of those standards.
