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Met Police officer sacked for ‘dirty Zionists’ tweets
PC Ruby Begum was dismissed without notice for her ‘appalling’ and ‘derogatory’ remarks
October 27, 2024 13:28
PC Ruby Begum was dismissed without notice for her ‘appalling’ and ‘derogatory’ remarks
October 27, 2024 13:28A Metropolitan Police constable who tweeted a series of derogatory posts about Jews and non-Muslims using the term “dirty Zionists” has been sacked after a panel found her guilty of gross misconduct.
PC Ruby Begum, 29, had posted a series of offensive comments about Jews on her Twitter/X while serving as a special constable, including: “Dirty Zionists. Hell is waiting” and “Zionists have no heart”.
Speaking during a misconduct hearing, she also admitted to using the term “kuffar” when referring to non-believers, making controversial comments about the September 11 attacks, and using a shortened version of ‘Pakistani’, according to the Telegraph.
Between 2013 and 2019, around 25,000 posts were published by Begum on X/Twitter, the hearing was told.
Begum admitted to using discriminatory language against Jews and non-Muslims, but denied gross misconduct, saying her comments could be classified as simple misconduct, and a final warning would be adequate.
But the panel, who dismissed her without notice, said her posts were “racist” and “appalling”.
“[The tweets] are derogatory and abusive, and also show a lack of tolerance for others who do not share the same characteristics as Ms Begum,” said the chairman of the panel, Evis Samupfonda.
“It falls far below the standard of professional behaviour for police officers.
“Misconduct would not be far enough. [The posts] are racist, discriminatory and intolerant. The panel’s decision is gross misconduct.”
Begum’s string of controversial tweets first came to light when the Mail on Sunday revealed them in 2021, triggering Scotland Yard to investigate her. Prior to her exposure, Begum was widely known facing-down anti-lockdown protesters in London after a photo of her confronting the demonstrators went viral in 2020.
Begum argued that she had “transformed” since posting the catalogue of controversial tweets, which she put down to her youth. “I was silly,” she told the panel. “It was almost 10 years ago and I’ve developed a lot through the police.”
She later added: “It looks bad on paper and I can see how immature I was ... I made a mistake which I’m sorry for.”
But the panel rejected her explanation, saying “she was an adult and a serving police officer”.
It also highlighted how Begum had undergone two rounds of equality and diversity training, once as part of special constable training in 2014 and a second time when becoming a full-time police constable in 2016.
Samupfonda mentioned how Begum’s most recent controversial post was as late as 2019, coming after the two training sessions.
“There is little doubt she breached the standards of professional behaviour expected for police officers.
“And her conduct continued while a serving member of the Metropolitan Police. The panel is appalled by Pc Begum’s behaviour.
“She has shown a lack of empathy for members of the public and her colleagues, and the tweets would undermine public confidence in the [Metropolitan Police]… The only appropriate outcome is dismissal without notice.”
Chief Supt Colin Wingrove, leader of the Met’s taskforce, said: “There is absolutely no place within the Met for anyone with racist or otherwise hateful attitudes. We are working hard to build a culture where anyone can feel welcome and thrive.
“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.”