Crime gangs grew under watch of racist and homophobic police unit
An anonymous complaint about Hampshire’s Serious Organised Crime Unit prompted an investigation and its office was bugged
8 January 2021 • 8:17pm
Serious organised crime groups expanded their empires while police officers in a “toxic” specialist unit traded racist, sexist, homophobic and ableist insults, a report has revealed.
Five police officers from Hampshire’s Serious Organised Crime Unit have been sacked after their “shameful” conversations were exposed by covert recording devices hidden in their office.
The county is home to more than 40 recognised crime gangs, and while these officers were making their “abhorrent” comments, groups in the area were becoming more dangerous – using firearms, engaging in child sexual abuse, and trafficking people, according to a 2019 report.
Olivia Pinkney, photographed at Hampshire Police headquarters, Netley. MEMBERS of a ‘toxic’ police unit who were sacked after covert recordings caught a catalogue of racist, sexist and homophobic remarks have been criticised for their “outdated and offensive views”. Police chiefs have welcomed a decision to dismiss three members of Hampshire Constabulary’s Serious Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) based at the Northern Police Investigation Centre, in Basingstoke. Detective Sergeant Oliver Lage, Detective Sergeant Gregory Willcox and PC James Oldfield have been discharged from the constabulary without notice. Retired Detective Inspector Tim Ireson and former PC Craig Bannerman would have been dismissed if they had not already left the service. The sixth officer, PC Andrew Ferguson was given a final written warning.