A former police sergeant who allegedly punched a suspect, bullied a teenager in custody, and requested a sex video from a female suspect's phone fostered a 'toxic' culture in his team via WhatsApp, a court has heard.
Trial at the Old Bailey
Paul Street, 41, is on trial at the Old Bailey for multiple offences allegedly committed while serving as a sergeant with Cambridgeshire Constabulary. He led a team based at Cambourne Police Station, focusing on county lines drug supply and organised crime in 2021. His 'robust' style reportedly produced 'impressive results' in tackling serious crime.
However, anti-corruption officers seized his phones in 2021, uncovering two WhatsApp groups that revealed a 'toxic' work environment. Prosecutor Anne Whyte KC stated that Street had 'created a culture of bragging and intolerance towards suspects' and maintained a 'zero-tolerance attitude to anyone on his team who disagreed with his methods and sentiments'.
WhatsApp Groups Exposed
A group called Impact Team was created in 2018 with 17 colleagues. Later, Street formed a smaller group named Inner Circle, used to share 'highly negative and inappropriate' comments about other officers.
In 2020, Street allegedly assaulted Samuel Kayode after he fled to evade arrest. When Street caught him, Mr. Kayode felt sharp pain to his face, was knocked to the ground, and punched. Street then took a 'trophy' photo of the injured suspect and sent it to the Impact Team group. Referring to himself as 'Daddy', he wrote: 'He had a disagreement with my baton and then my fist.'
A new team member reported the WhatsApp comments, prompting Street to instruct members to clear the chat. He allegedly messaged the Inner Circle: 'Just a shame we have snakes as we are all such good mates.' Street claimed self-defence and was issued an action plan but remained in his post. Mr. Kayode later made a formal complaint and was jailed for drug possession.
Bullying a Teenage Detainee
In April 2020, a 17-year-old boy was arrested and strip-searched. Street allegedly called him an 'absolute gobshite', said he wanted to bully him 'relentlessly', and encouraged another officer to 'please hit him'. He recorded a video telling the suspect police would go to his mother's house to 'rip it apart', and told his partner: 'Had a rumble with our drug dealer in the cell today. Little rat has proper pressed my buttons today.' The boy was fined £300 for drug possession and insulting behaviour.
Request for Intimate Images
In autumn 2020, PC Josh Williams, 38, was examining a female suspect's phone and told Street she was 'quite fit'. Street allegedly asked if there were 'any nudes', and Williams replied there was a video of a sexual act. Williams took a photo of the woman in underwear and forwarded it to Street. No charges were brought against the woman. In 2021, Street asked if Williams still had the video, saying he wanted to show 'the lads from footy'. Street claimed he wanted to see the images to ensure the woman was not a victim of exploitation, but the prosecutor argued it was not part of his job.
Williams pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office for sending intimate photos. Ms. Whyte said Street's WhatsApp chat showed he 'set the tone' for junior officers and made regular references to bullying suspects.
Prosecutor's Closing Remarks
Ms. Whyte told jurors: 'It may be that Paul Street will try to depict himself as a maverick, unorthodox officer whose own particular brand of messaging is one big institutional joke. But being able to point to a successful arrest rate does not justify the way in which Paul Street went about his job in 2020 and 2021. He lost all sight of how to conduct himself.' She added that he 'broke the rules repeatedly' and 'was behaving precisely like the criminals he loved to despise'.
Street, of Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, denies assault occasioning actual bodily harm, perverting the course of justice, and two offences of misconduct in public office. The trial continues.
