West Midlands Police officer fined £200 for racist conduct towards female officer

A West Midlands Police officer who made inappropriate, discriminatory and racist comments towards a female colleague last December has been found guilty and fined for his disgraceful conduct.

The matter was subject to a criminal investigation which resulted in PC Joe Courtney being charged with two counts of committing a racially aggravated public order offence.

At Nottingham Magistrates Court in April the disgraced police officer admitted the offences and was fined £200 and ordered to pay £200 compensation to the victim.

At a hearing on Friday 17 June the offender was found to have breached the standards of professional behaviour relating to equality and diversity and discreditable conduct.

A police spokesperson stated that Courtney would have been sacked from the force had he not already resigned on 7 June.

Chief Constable Sir David Thompson, who chaired the hearing, stated there was “very clear harm in this case to the victim” with “persistent and deliberate racist comments”. Sir David added that the abhorrent comments made by the contemptible police officer were “racist to a criminal standard”.

“The behaviour of this officer is wholly unacceptable. It matters not that the words used came while he was off-duty. There is no place in policing for anyone prepared to use discriminatory language or behaviour,” said Sir David.

The female officer who endured the racist abuse is being offered support.