http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/b...ts/6191832.stm
Officers reprimanded over e-mail
A "racist" e-mail has resulted in 100 Hertfordshire police officers and civilian staff being disciplined.
Fifteen of the most senior officers and staff were given formal reprimands, or the civilian equivalent, for distributing the visual message.
Another 85 were disciplined with either a formal warning or management advice.
The e-mail, originating from the US, shows a black suspect being decapitated on railings after jumping from a flyover after a pursuit by police.
The series of images is entitled "Do not run from the police". A senior officer said it could have been perceived as racist.
Disappointed by conduct
Hertfordshire Police mounted a "robust" investigation into the distribution of the e-mail, under the supervision of the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
A total of 400 officers and staff at the force received it, 300 of whom deleted it. However, it was circulated by the other 100.
Of those, 15 were in "supervisory roles". Eight police officers were given a formal reprimand and seven police staff handed final written warnings.
Deputy Chief Constable Simon Ash said: "I am disappointed by the conduct of officers and staff who distributed this inappropriate image that some people may have perceived as being racist.
"Through this investigation we have been able to clearly re-state the high standards of conduct required from everyone who works for us - this is no less than our public should expect and demand of us."
Alicia Moore, of Hertfordshire's Black Police Association, said the disciplinary sanctions were "appropriate".
"We see this outcome as an opportunity for us all to learn from the investigation and to be able to move on," she said.
President of the Black Police Association Keith Jarrett said disciplinary action should have gone further.
"I don't think a robust enough sanction has been taken against the officers concerned, especially the supervisory ones," he said.
"It is, at best, disrespecful to the black people that live in Hertfordshire."
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The message was 'don't run from the police'. If the guy doing the running was white would there have been any complaints. I fail to see where the race of the person running from the cops was mentioned. So what they are saying is that it might be OK to forward emails poking fun at the misfortune of others so long as that person is not black.
Officers reprimanded over e-mail
A "racist" e-mail has resulted in 100 Hertfordshire police officers and civilian staff being disciplined.
Fifteen of the most senior officers and staff were given formal reprimands, or the civilian equivalent, for distributing the visual message.
Another 85 were disciplined with either a formal warning or management advice.
The e-mail, originating from the US, shows a black suspect being decapitated on railings after jumping from a flyover after a pursuit by police.
The series of images is entitled "Do not run from the police". A senior officer said it could have been perceived as racist.
Disappointed by conduct
Hertfordshire Police mounted a "robust" investigation into the distribution of the e-mail, under the supervision of the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
A total of 400 officers and staff at the force received it, 300 of whom deleted it. However, it was circulated by the other 100.
Of those, 15 were in "supervisory roles". Eight police officers were given a formal reprimand and seven police staff handed final written warnings.
Deputy Chief Constable Simon Ash said: "I am disappointed by the conduct of officers and staff who distributed this inappropriate image that some people may have perceived as being racist.
"Through this investigation we have been able to clearly re-state the high standards of conduct required from everyone who works for us - this is no less than our public should expect and demand of us."
Alicia Moore, of Hertfordshire's Black Police Association, said the disciplinary sanctions were "appropriate".
"We see this outcome as an opportunity for us all to learn from the investigation and to be able to move on," she said.
President of the Black Police Association Keith Jarrett said disciplinary action should have gone further.
"I don't think a robust enough sanction has been taken against the officers concerned, especially the supervisory ones," he said.
"It is, at best, disrespecful to the black people that live in Hertfordshire."
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The message was 'don't run from the police'. If the guy doing the running was white would there have been any complaints. I fail to see where the race of the person running from the cops was mentioned. So what they are saying is that it might be OK to forward emails poking fun at the misfortune of others so long as that person is not black.
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