No sanctions for Met officer who joked about rape

A former Met Police officer has been found to have committed gross misconduct at Charing Cross police station and will face no penalty, a hearing has found.

Ex-police constable Brian Sharkey, who retired last May, had made comments caught on undercover footage which aired in a BBC Panorama documentary in October.

Although he was found to have breached standards, a police misconduct hearing said he would not face any sanctions.

As a former officer the only penalty available was dismissal from the force had he still been serving. He has also not been placed on the barred list that would prevent rejoining the police.

The proceedings regarding Sharkey bring to an end eight accelerated misconduct hearings resulting from the BBC Panorama programme broadcast in October 2025.

PCs Sean Park, Jason Sinclair-Birt, Martin Borg, Philip Neilson, and Sgts Lawrence Hume, Clayton Robinson and Joe McIlvenny were dismissed without notice in separate hearings after it was found they had committed gross misconduct.

Cdr Simon Messinger said the actions of those featured in the programme "had a clear impact on the trust and confidence the public have in us to act with integrity and professionalism and keep people safe while in our care.

"It is absolutely right these officers are no longer in the Met."

He added work work continue "at pace to address the cultural issues in the Met that created an environment where these abhorrent views could be seen as acceptable behaviour".

He said: "It will enable the good people in our organisation to thrive as they serve to protect London while ridding us of those who have absolutely no place being here."

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