Peterborough police officer sent 'misogynistic, predatory, sexually degrading, discriminatory' to 'Original Juicers – Absolute Boro Legends' Whatsapp group

Former PC Kyle Carter-Lawrence, who was based in Peterborough, sent inappropriate messages to the group between June 2016 and March 2024.

Cambridgeshire Police said that a hearing, held at Lysander House, in Bedfordshire, heard how former PC Carter-Lawrence was a membe r WhatsApp group named “Original Juicers – Absolute Boro Legends,” along with a number of men not affiliated with the police service.

Carter-Lawrence had resigned from the force before the hearing – but Chief Constable Simon Megicks said he would have been sacked as a result of his conduct.

In the hearing report (available at https://www.cambs.police.uk/foi-ai/cambridgeshire-police/misconduct/outcomes/misconduct-hearing-outcome---former-pc-kyle-carter-lawrence/), it was said: “The messages he sent to the group were misogynistic, predatory, sexually degrading, discriminatory and implicate him in class A drug use. He used language which failed to treat people with respect and courtesy. In doing so, his conduct was such that it is capable of discrediting the police service and/or undermining public confidence in it.”

The report also said that the former officer, who was based at Thorpe Wood Police Station, made ‘frequent references to drug taking, use of cocaine and other drugs and received messages for other persons who were so engaged in such activity. The former officer made no attempts to remove himself from those comments frequently endorsing or referencing himself engaging in such use.’

Another allegation that was found to be proved at the hearing ‘concerns the former officer engaging in similar messages in a 1-2-1 chat group with a fellow officer. Those messages were of a derogatory in nature, referenced sexual predatory behaviour and drug taking.’

There were also allegations that he made inaccurate declarations on his vetting form. The report says: “Given the evidence I have seen from the various WhatsApp groups it is clear that he is or has associated with various persons who have engaged in criminal activity, such as drug taking or criminal damage. The entries he has made are therefore inaccurate and he has made no attempt to rectify these errors once he joined the service.”

The report adds: “Allegation 6 concerns associating with those who have engaged in criminal behaviour. From what I have said regarding allegation 5 (in respect of the vetting form) I find this matter proved. I find that failure to notify the service of these associations undermine public confidence and is discreditable behaviour. I find that this amounts to gross misconduct.”

Chief Constable Simon Megicks, who chaired the hearing, found that former PC Lawrence-Carter’s behaviour amounted to Gross Misconduct, and said: “The behaviour uncovered in this case fell far below the standards we expect from anyone serving within Cambridgeshire Constabulary. The misogynistic, discriminatory and wholly inappropriate messages, alongside references to drug use and failure to challenge unacceptable conduct, are completely incompatible with the responsibilities of a police officer.

“The public rightly expect officers to act with integrity, uphold the law, and challenge wrongdoing, not participate in it. This former officer’s actions undermined trust, damaged confidence and has no place in policing.”

The hearing concluded that Carter-Lawrence would have been dismissed if he was still a serving officer.