The recent misconduct hearing revealed unsettling actions by Metropolitan Police officers involving the inappropriate handling of sensitive images. The case centers on PC Zak Malik and PC Manning, who were implicated in sharing unauthorized photos of a deceased individual.
Incident Details
The incident occurred at an assisted living facility for seniors located in Dalston, east London. Officers discovered a resident who had passed away some days prior to their arrival.
- Location: Dalston, East London
- Incident Type: Unauthorized sharing of images of a deceased person
Behavior of Officers
PC Malik took personal photos of the deceased using his phone. He then sent the images to Manning via WhatsApp, reportedly to reduce the file size for uploading to the Metropolitan Police’s system.
Although Manning deleted the photos from his device, they remained accessible on WhatsApp. When Malik notified Manning of this oversight, Manning responded casually with laughter.
Subsequent Actions
During a subsequent training course at a Shoreditch police station, Manning showed the photo to other officers while discussing challenging situations. This behavior made two officers uncomfortable, prompting them to file a report.
Following their report, Manning was arrested, and his mobile device was confiscated. Investigations revealed additional images associated with other victims, suspects, and pieces of evidence.
Claims and Group Behavior
Manning defended his actions, asserting that using and sharing such images was “common practice.” The investigation also uncovered that he had established a WhatsApp group named “Away Days,” notorious for containing sexist, homophobic, ableist, and transphobic content.
Conclusion
This misconduct hearing raises serious concerns about ethical standards and behaviors within the Metropolitan Police. The actions of Malik and Manning exemplify a significant breach of professionalism and respect for deceased individuals and their families.
