A “TOXIC and abhorrent” specialist police unit named part of its office ‘African corner’, a misconduct hearing has heard. Hampshire Constabulary’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) North had placed a map of the continent on a whiteboard where two officers of African heritage sat. The nickname was made when the team were based in Whitchurch, before it moved to the Northern Police Investigation Centre, based in Basingstoke. Detective Sergeant Greg Willcox said that he thought it was “to reflect their background or culture” and considered it a “positive” association. The two officers subject to the nickname were Detective Constable Sol Koranteng - who is not accused as part of the case – and former PC Craig Bannerman, who faces misconduct charges.
Five police officers have been dismissed after covert recording equipment uncovered a “toxic” culture at an organised crime unit where abhorrent racist, sexist and homophobic language was the “stock