A serving police officer accused of having links to an ISIS jihadist, who posted a series of racist comments on social media, has been dismissed without notice following a misconduct hearing.
PC Ruby Begum was praised as a role model in 2020 for confronting anti-lockdown protesters while wearing a hijab, while serving in the Met Police’s Taskforce.
However, her career was today in ruins after a misconduct panel found her responsible for posting a series of derogatory tweets about Jews and which mocked the 9/11 terror attacks before she joined the force, initially as a special constable in 2014.
She used offensive language such as “dirty Zionists. Hell is waiting” while serving as a special constable.
She also admitted using the term “kuffar” to refer to non-believers, saying: “Kuffar lips have been all over my mug, there is no way I’m using that thing again.”
Begum apologised during the hearing but argued she should not be dismissed as she was referring to the Israeli government and the deaths of Palestinians.
Yet, the panel found her to have breached the standards of professional behaviour with regards to discreditable conduct and equality and diversity at the level of gross misconduct.
A separate allegation that during the police vetting process she “failed to disclose her association with a female Jihadi living inside the Islamic State caliphate in Syria” along with an “alleged interest in the teachings of extremist preachers” was dropped due to lack of evidence ahead of the case.
She was dismissed without notice following the conclusion of the hearing today, Wednesday, October 23.
Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove, in charge of the Met’s Taskforce, said: “There is absolutely no place within the Met for anyone with racist or otherwise hateful attitudes.
“Our diverse workforce, made up of people from a range of backgrounds, makes us better able to reflect and serve the public. We are working hard to build a culture where anyone can feel welcome and thrive.
“Those who undermine these goals have no place in the organisation. They are not suitable to serve Londoners and will feel the consequences.
“The overwhelming majority of officers in the Met make a fantastic contribution to policing London, but we can only rebuild trust and continue to deliver the change that is needed by taking action, as we have today, to remove those within our ranks who do not share our values.”
PC Begum joined the Met as a Special Constable in May 2014 and became a PC in July 2016.
The misconduct hearing panel, led by an independent legally qualified chair, examined allegations that between 2013 and 2019 PC Begum posted a number of discriminatory and offensive comments on her Twitter account.
The posts remained visible on her account after she became a Special Constable and later a PC.
On August 6, 2021, after receiving information from the Mail on Sunday, the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards conducted a formal assessment and determined that a conduct matter should be recorded against PC Begum.
She was notified of the investigation and was initially placed on restricted duties. On August 9, 2022, she was suspended from duty.
The Met made a voluntary referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which determined that the matter should be investigated locally.
Following an investigation, which included officers reviewing 25,000 of PC Begum’s Tweets, it was determined that she had a case to answer for gross misconduct.
Following the hearing, PC Begum will now be placed on the barred list held by the College of Policing. Those appearing on the list cannot be employed by police, local policing bodies (PCCs), the Independent Office for Police Conduct or His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.
