Merseyside police has "cleaned" its e-mail system

Twenty-two Merseyside Police officers and 13 support staff face the sack.

Councillor Bill Weightman, chairman of the Merseyside Police Authority, said their content ranged from "disgusting" to "minor jocular stuff".

The e-mails were detected by the force's computer monitoring system. An internal investigation is under way.

Mr Weightman said: "They span from what I would consider disgusting to very minor jocular stuff in joke form.

"I am personally appalled and disappointed that the Merseyside force has discovered evidence of disturbing attitudes within the organisation.

Literature of this nature is offensive and has no place in a professional organisation such as Merseyside Police Inspector Irene Afful Chairman of Merseyside Black Police Association

"This cannot and will not be tolerated within a police service responsible for protecting every man, woman and child on Merseyside, without discrimination.

"I am also deeply concerned that this issue will undermine public confidence in the force, and will reflect badly on the remaining majority of Merseyside Police officers and support staff who work so hard to serve all sections of our community so well."

The e-mail system at Merseyside Police will be "cleaned" to remove any trace of the messages.

Graham Barker, assistant chief constable, said he would not allow such e-mails to "infiltrate" the system.

He said that most people sent the messages had deleted them.

'Absolutely unacceptable'

Mr Barker added: "There are a core of individuals who have allegedly sent grossly offensive emails to colleagues or kept them on their system.

"Just to be in possession of an email of this type is a serious breach of our standards and to forward them on is absolutely unacceptable."

The matter has been voluntarily referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission to supervise the internal investigation.