A Metropolitan Police officer is facing a misconduct investigation after an appalling breach of protocol at the scene of a fatal car crash. The officer allegedly used Apple's Airdrop feature to send a photograph of the deceased victim to a colleague's personal mobile phone.
The incident, described by the force as 'deeply distressing', occurred in London and has prompted an immediate referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The IOPC has now launched its own investigation into the matter.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed the serious nature of the event, stating: "We are aware of an incident in which an image from a police device was airdropped to a member of the public's phone. This is deeply distressing and an appalling breach of trust."
The recipient of the image was not a member of the public but another police officer who was off-duty at the time. The image was sent to their personal iPhone, not a work-issued device.
The force has emphasised that such actions fall far below the standards expected of its officers. The IOPC will determine whether the officer involved should face a gross misconduct hearing, which could result in dismissal if they are found to have breached professional standards.
This episode represents another blow to public confidence in the Metropolitan Police, coming amid ongoing efforts to rebuild trust and ensure the highest levels of professionalism and respect, particularly when dealing with victims and sensitive situations.
