Police officers at Bethel Street station in Norwich accidentally recorded themselves making racist and transphobic comments, discussing illegally stop-searching Black people, and joking about dragging a suspect down the stairs. The footage was captured on a camera confiscated from a protester, which officers left recording on a desk.
Officers Discuss Illegal Stop-Searches
In one clip, an officer can be heard saying: “I illegally stop-search IC3 [police code for Black people] females and then I arrest them and it becomes a big deal.” Another officer replied: “you’re Black, and you were disobedient.”
Norfolk Constabulary told the Mirror that while they are still reviewing some of the material, a spokesperson admitted parts of the recordings will “undermine public confidence in policing”. The force said it had looked into the stop and search records for the officers involved and found no evidence of discriminatory behaviour.
Protest and Arrest of Gemma Barnes
The recording was made after animal rights activist Gemma Barnes was pushed to the ground by a police officer during a protest outside the station in January 2023. She was arrested and her bodycam was confiscated. The camera continued recording inside the station, capturing officers’ comments.
On the tape, an officer called Gemma “an absolute f******g waste of space”. Police could be heard laughing as they reviewed footage of her being pushed, with one officer saying: “she went down like Cristiano Ronaldo.” Another officer remarked: “I like how you’re so committed, you f******g send Gemma Barnes flying and then you’re like ‘right, next protester’.”
Transphobic Remarks and Other Comments
In another part of the recording, officers referred to a trans protester as “the pink-haired thing, whatever that was, they/them.” Officers also joked about “old-school custody” and “dragging her down the stairs”. One officer said: “you’re all going to be on YouTube,” to which another replied: “I was wearing my big hat so I’m less recognisable.”
Complaint and Legal Action
Gemma filed a complaint with Norfolk Constabulary in early 2023. The force’s Professional Standards Department reported in March 2026 that three officers were given “reflective practice”. Gemma called the outcome a “whitewash” and is now suing the force.
Her lawyer, John Hagan, told the Mirror: “This footage shows us what goes on inside many Police Officer’s heads and behind the closed doors of the Police Station, and it is not a pretty sight. Officers can be heard describing my client as a f*****g waste of space, discussing other officers attempting to generate an unsubstantiated charge against her and describing a transgender person as a 'thing'. They are gleeful about the violence they have used against Gemma, a peaceful protestor, and frankly the whole atmosphere is akin to a school in which the teachers are absent and the bullies have taken over.”
He added: “The so-called Independent Office of Police Conduct has, as usual, shown itself to be anything but independent in its assessment of my client’s case, and she will now be using the full force of the civil law to hold both Norfolk Constabulary and the IOPC to account for their egregious actions.”
Police Response
A Norfolk Constabulary spokeswoman said: “We can confirm this footage was reviewed as part of a conduct investigation which started in January 2024 and considered 17 separate aspects as part of a single complaint. Following that investigation, a number of matters were addressed through the appropriate misconduct processes. We also reviewed arrest and stop and search records for the officers involved and found no wider evidence of discriminatory behaviour. This investigation is currently subject to a complainant’s right to review with the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
“Part of the footage currently being circulated on social media has not previously been provided to the Constabulary in its current format and we are therefore further reviewing this. As a matter of fairness, we will not comment further on this while that assessment is ongoing. We know that some of the content currently being shared will undermine public confidence in policing. People rightly expect high standards from police officers and staff, and some of the content being circulated falls short of what the public would expect to hear. We are carefully reviewing the new material and will take any action that is supported by evidence.”
