Officers investigated over e-mail

Police officers and staff who allegedly circulated an e-mail image of a decapitated black man are being investigated, it has been revealed.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has been brought into the supervise the investigation, which involves Hertfordshire Police officers.

The force's own IT monitoring systems picked up the suspect e-mail.

On Wednesday Herts Police said its professional standards department would investigate the matter.

The e-mail reportedly contains a series of images, one of which shows the head of a black man who dies after jumping on to metal railings during a police chase. It is captioned: "Don't run from the police."

'Robust investigation'

It is unclear if the e-mail is real or fake, but it is thought to have originated in the United States.

In a statement Hertfordshire Police said: "A wide-ranging and robust investigation is being conducted into the receipt, and subsequent distribution within the organisation, of a potentially offensive e-mail image.

"The inquiry was launched after an inappropriate image was sent to officers and staff within the organisation and, in a number of instances, distributed on by officers and staff to colleagues within the constabulary.

"The matter has been voluntarily referred to the IPCC, who have elected to supervise the investigation."

'No room for this'

Deputy Chief Constable Simon Ash described the e-mail attachment as "wholly inappropriate" and said it would not be tolerated.

"This e-mail attachment contravenes our organisational values and standards and there is absolutely no room in this constabulary for this type of communication," he said.

"There are a number of individuals who have allegedly forwarded this message to others and it is those officers and staff who are the main focus of our attention."

Det Sgt Alicia Moore, chair of the Hertfordshire Black Police Association, added: "The inquiry team has consulted closely with us since the beginning of this investigation and, to date, we are satisfied with the course of action that is being taken."

An e-mail showing a man being decapitated has resulted in 140 Hertfordshire police officers and civilian staff being disciplined.

Eight police sergeants were given formal reprimands and seven civilian supervisors received final written warnings for distributing the message.

The e-mail, originating from the US, shows a black man being decapitated on railings after a pursuit by police.

A senior officer said the image could be perceived as racist and offensive.

The series of images, which show the pursued man being decapitated after jumping from a flyover, is entitled "Do not run from the police".

Hertfordshire Police mounted a five-month-long "robust" investigation into the distribution of the e-mail, under the supervision of the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

A total of 440 officers and staff at the force received it, 300 of whom deleted it. However, it was circulated by the other 140 who were at sergeant rank and below or of civilian grade.

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."

However, chairman of the Hertfordshire Police Federation Adam Kemp said he did not believe it was racist and staff had been dealt with for a breach of the force's internet security policy.

He said: "The email may have been perceived by others as racist but we have had so many differing opinions around this image.

"My own view is that the image itself is not racist but it's certainly inappropriate to be circulating it within a police force."

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, disrespectful to the black people that live in Hertfordshire."

Bulls*****. This was not a racist incedent. This wasa scumbag dope dealer who ran from the police here in Atlanta. I have the pics.

If you're stupid enough to sell dope and run from the police, regardless of the color of your skin, then you deserve what you get.

Racist? Deputy Chief Constable Simon Ash needs to STFU.

Sorry for the rant, but I am sick and tired of people screaming racisim all the time.

Pictures Removed ---------- Sarge