Metropolitan Police Loses High Court Challenge Over Officer's 'Disgusting' Comments
The Metropolitan Police has failed in its High Court bid to dismiss a sergeant who admitted making what were described as "disgusting" and "puerile" comments to female colleagues, including calling a pregnant officer a "whore".
The Offensive Remarks and Tribunal Findings
Sergeant Paul Hollis confessed to telling a pregnant colleague who was permitted to leave work early due to back pain that she was "getting special treatment because you laid back like a whore". Several months later, he sent another female colleague a message stating he could "still smell your clunge in the back office".
The term "clunge" is widely recognised as offensive slang for female genitalia, famously used by the character Jay in the television series The Inbetweeners.
During misconduct proceedings in October 2024, Sgt Hollis claimed he couldn't recall using the word "whore" specifically but acknowledged his comments were "stupid and puerile" and "disgusting and inappropriate". He maintained the remarks were intended "in jest".
High Court Dismisses Met's Challenge
The original misconduct panel found Sgt Hollis had breached professional standards of "authority, respect and courtesy" and "discreditable conduct" but surprisingly concluded he hadn't violated "equality and diversity" standards. The panel issued him with a final written warning rather than recommending dismissal.
The Metropolitan Police challenged this decision at the High Court, arguing that the panel's findings on equality standards were unlawful and that dismissal represented the "only rational outcome" given the seriousness of the offences.
However, in a ruling delivered on Thursday, November 27th, Jonathan Glasson KC, sitting as a deputy High Court judge, dismissed the force's claim. Judge Glasson stated he was "not persuaded that the outcome was irrational" and found no legal error in the tribunal's analysis.
Tribunal's Reasoning and Final Outcome
The original misconduct panel noted that despite Sgt Hollis not offering "an immediate apology", they had "found evidence of genuine remorse and insight". Crucially, the panel determined that the two women involved did not "perceive that their dignity had been violated" nor that "an adverse or hostile environment had been created for them".
While acknowledging the comments were "so serious that dismissal from the force could be justified", the panel concluded this was a "bad joke gone wrong" delivered without "malicious thought" or "sexual motive".
The panel emphasised that as a senior officer on duty, Sgt Hollis "should have known that this sort of language is completely unacceptable in the workplace" and particularly should not have been directed at "junior female colleagues".
The final written warning will remain on Sgt Hollis's record for two years, with Judge Glasson concluding the panel was entitled to determine that "deterrence would be achieved through a finding of gross misconduct and the imposition of a final written warning" in this specific case.
