West Midlands Police bar 'disgraced' former officer for life over racist outburst at Christmas party

PC Joe Courtney will never work for the police again after his vile comments to a colleague.

West Midlands Police have barred disgraced former PC Joe Courtney after he was said to have ‘disgraced’ the force.

A former West Midlands Police officer has been barred from policing for life after making "persistent and deliberate racist comments" during a Christmas party. Former PC Joe Courtney was said to have "disgraced the force" with inappropriate, racist, and discriminatory remarks towards a female colleague. At the same time, both were off duty at an event on December 15th and 16th last year.

In April, he was fined £200 and ordered to pay another £200 in compensation to the victim at Nottingham Magistrates Court. The former police officer, who resigned from the force this month, had 'tarnished' the name of good officers with the "serious crime", Chief Constable Sir Dave Thompson told a disciplinary hearing.

Chief Constable Thompson said Courtney's behaviour amounted to gross misconduct and had he not resigned. He would have been sacked without notice. Having "carefully read the victim impact statement", he said the comments - which were "racist to a criminal standard" - had "caused a great deal of upset" to his colleague.

"Police officers do a difficult job, and colleagues should support, not undermine you," he told the hearing. Former PC Courtney was found to have breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour, including Authority, Respect & Courtesy and Equality & Diversity.

Though Chief Constable Thompson recognised "drink loosens tongues", he said, "but it does not put racist views in your head". He added: "Racist behaviour damages the reputation of our service and causes great harm to police. There is zero tolerance for racism.

"The officer should be clear this was wrong. Good officers have had their names tarnished by former officer Courtney. He held racist views. He has disgraced this force."

The force's top police officer added that the office would 'unsurprisingly' have been dismissed without notice had he still been a serving officer. Courtney has been added to the barred register.