PC Fernando Santos dos Santos, a Metropolitan Police officer, has been sacked after being caught on film making vulgar and misogynistic comments about an attempted rape suspect's girlfriend. The comments were broadcast in a controversial BBC Panorama investigation last year that exposed racism and misogyny at Charing Cross Police station.
Comments caught on camera
In secretly recorded footage, Santos dos Santos dismissed the woman as 'a bit f***ing dumb' and joked with a colleague, saying 'You don't wanna pull that, trust me,' about the suspect's girlfriend. At an accelerated police misconduct hearing on June 24, Santos dos Santos admitted making the comments but claimed they were intended to express his bemusement that the woman did not understand who had made the rape allegation against her partner. He accepted his comment was 'not particularly kind' but denied it was grossly offensive or insulting.
Further disturbing remarks
Panorama also revealed Santos dos Santos saying, 'You can always justify the use of force,' when reminded of the need to do so by a colleague. He described a custody sergeant's use of force on a suspect as 'f***ing beautiful' and 'the best Spartan kick I’ve ever seen in my life,' adding, 'And the sergeant just went, f***ing get back [mimed kicking], just kicked him in the chest.' The disgraced officer said he 'just wanted to laugh.' He denied glorifying violence, claiming his comment 'demonstrates his passion for the job' and did not represent a wider enjoyment of violence.
Insensitive remarks about suicide
In the same conversation, Santos dos Santos spoke about people considering suicide, saying, 'most of their f***ing jumpers are from the counties, they come to jump here because they’re seeking attention… because we give it to them… there, they don’t like ‘you’re going to jump? ‘yeah we’ve been to you before, you’re not going to f***ing do shit, see you later.' He accepted this was not a sensitive term but said it was 'the common lingo that is used within the police' and intended no disrespect.
Outcome of misconduct hearing
Commander Andy Brittain sacked Santos dos Santos without notice and placed him on the police barred list, preventing him from working in policing in the future.
