Police Sharing Images of 3 Murder Victims

"Emma Webber, Barnaby’s mother, said she had decided to release the details of the messages because the force’s Chief Constable Kate Meynell, whose son was on the WhatsApp group, refused to pass a private letter to its members explaining the impact of their words."

That's in the news today: Middle of the article states above.

Link https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/04/23/police-officers-stabbed-nottingham-students-butchered/

Police officers have to witness every kind of depravity without so much as a counselling session. And you expect them to behave with humanity? You have no idea. Thank god for them.

I’m afraid to say that (not all, but many of) the kind of people who are drawn to work in the emergency services, and, indeed, are successful within them, are not always going to be the most sensitive or empathetic, and probably wouldn’t give a thank you for counselling. Maybe they need to be like that to do the job? Maybe the job does that to them? It should not be beyond them, however, to restrain themselves from these displays of depravity. You can bet that the few we hear about are only the tip of the iceberg, as with most scandals which come to light. The punishments should be much more severe. Those dealing with vulnerable people must be held to the highest standards of behaviour, whether they (or you) like it or not.

OP - where did you see this reported? BBC report makes no mention of any images being shared and, contrary to what you've said, it says that two officers were actually sacked - one for looking up details of the attacker on official systems, and the other for viewing footage they didn't need to. No suggestion though that any images or footage were passed on to anyone?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-68886331

If it really is the case that the Chief Constables son is in the WhatsApp group (and that he isn't in the police), then it's no wonder she wants to brush things under the carpet. Surely this in itself is a disciplinary offence.

No way on this earth you'd be posting that bullshit if your child was murdered and the details of their horrific death were shared for entertainment by the officers involved in investigating it.

I accept a lot of what you have said there. They have to face the worst sights and and get through the day.

However, there is a standard below which they must not drop. If they cannot function above that standard, they are in the wrong job.

I support the police and an grateful for them. These officers however are in the wrong job.

Also, and what stuns me, is the stupidity of people putting stuff like this on SM.

I agree with everything you say here.

Yes! Of course they are expected to ‘behave with humanity’ - In fact due to the nature of the work I expect them to have more humanity, not less!! What kind of person thinks this?! ‘Dark humour’ (which I’m also dubious about as an excuse) is one thing, this is on another scale entirely! I’m genuinely speechless, what am I even reading!

I'm not the op.

It appears the police in the area really need reminding of their duties by their chief constable.

"An investigation it carried out found that 11 members of staff had viewed material relating to the case who did not have a legitimate reason to do so."

I think I've mixed up two stories. A PCSO was sacked for viewing footage of the scene on his laptop. Thanks gor pointing that out.

Pcso

https://news.sky.com/story/nottingham-attacks-special-constable-sacked-after-viewing-body-worn-footage-of-dying-victims-13077965

The language used makes me wonder if the officers are in their 20s. Sadly I think that the younger generation when still at school have access to so many vile images on line that they become desensitized to stuff over time. I was shocked at some of the things doing the rounds when my daughter was at school, and this was over 10 years ago, so I dread to think what it's like now.

These teenagers then go on to be part of the workforce so I'm not surprised that some of them lack compassion.

However, I do think it should be made clear to new recruits in the police force that any sharing of sensitive information with family etc is a sackable offence. They need the public's trust.

Policing,and any emergency service, puts the person in a situation that the average person could not cope with.

There is truth that there is compartmentalisation and a certain black humour to enable coping.

However, the bar should be higher for conduct in the emergency services.
I have never known counselling and support not to be offered.

There is no doubt the traumas witnessed can cause lifelong issues.

However basic compassion and dignity for victims is the backbone of all of the emergency services.

Feel very deeply for the victims and their families.

The devastation of losing your loved one, followed by the shock that your tragedy has been used as entertainment, must be beyond endurance.

The police who shared images of the two sisters in London went to prison, so that is more than just a sacking offence.

It really does beggar belief.

WhatsApp groups have been an issue for some time. In my old force it has been absolutely explicitly stated that they must not be used for official police information and that social use can also lead to dismissal if behaviour on the group falls below the standards of professional behaviour and could bring the force into disrepute. As a result, what was commonplace has now largely died out. Most officers still have a group chat for their team but it tends to be limited to perfunctory arrangements.

I'd be surprised if it was much different on other forces. Anyone who posts stuff like this is therefore stupid as well as careless and unthinkingly callous, which calls into question their suitability for the role in itself.

I'm so sorry for the families.

There is a question to be answered about how police and civilian staff (who are subject to different regulations) decompress after dealing with compounded trauma. The removal of police canteens from most premises, the culture of 90% single crewing and being out of the station al the time have all removed many of the opportunities for cops to talk to each other. Social media has filled that gap just as it has in other areas of society. We need to think about how we provide them with the ability to offload in healthy ways instead of these deeply damaging ways. However, that's not an excuse - this still shouldn't have happened. I've seen some horrendous things in my time and never done similar.

Agree the wording used in those messages was terrible and inexcusable, but I do think op should get this thread amended, especially the title as I don’t think it’s accurate at all

All the news reports are saying there were no images shared, just graphic descriptions. Doesn't make it any better tho.

They are able to access counseling support. Stop lying. There is no excuse for a lot of the actions coming from a sizable number of Police. The only difference is that now it is coming to the attention of the mainstream, and affecting them, in ways that it did not before.

This.

It's a crime scene, not a free for all.

Sharing graphic images of victims should be a sacking offence or at least a final warning. Random family members of officers should not have access to this.

I don't expect them to talk about victims in the way they did, "proper butchered" and they had their "innards out and everything " and share with people who are not in the police, family members of senior police officers, etc.

Apparently they broke their work phone policy too.

Yes they have a difficult job but sharing things as they did is wrong and distasteful for the families to read.

Professional conduct is vital in thr police force.

According to Barnaby’s mum it was messages with graphic language not images. She said she doesn’t want them to be vilified or shamed. There is clearly an issue around professionalism and compassion generally in the police and something needs to be addressed on a wide scale. It’s a fundamental cultural change which is needed and starts with leadership. Easier said than done when they are under pressure so I can’t see it changing any time soon.

I’ve just read the news story this morning about the awful wording used to describe the deaths, in a WhatsApp message. Haven’t read anything about sharing images on WhatsApp. Where has this been reported?

Police officers have to witness every kind of depravity without so much as a counselling session. And you expect them to behave with humanity? You have no idea. Thank god for them.

It sadly doesn't shock me but it is absolutely disgusting. I would put money on this a) not being the first time they have done this and b) that they will do it again.