Six former officers of the Metropolitan Police have been charged with sending grossly offensive racist messages on WhatsApp.

The force shared the charges following a BBC Newsnight investigation in October 2022. 

The investigation later prompted a probe by the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards.

It's believed that the racist messages shared in the chat were allegedly about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, according to the BBC.

Six former Met Police officers charged with sending racist messages 

The six charged men have been named as: 

  • Peter Booth, 66, of Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire - was charged with four counts of sending by public communication grossly offensive racist messages. Retired in April 2001.
  • Rober Lewis, 62 of Camberley, Surrey - was charged with eight counts of sending by public communication grossly offensive racist messages. Retired in May 2015.
  • Anthony Elsom, 67, of Bournemouth, Dorset - was charged with three counts of sending by public communication grossly offensive racist messages. Retired May 2012.
  • Alan Hall, 65, of Stowmarket, Suffolk - was charged with three counts of sending by public communication grossly offensive racist messages. Retired in June 2015.
  • Michael Chadwell, 62, of Liss, Hampshire - was charged with one count of sending by public communication grossly offensive racist messages. Retired November 2015.
  • Trevor Lewton, 65, of Swansea, South Wales - was charged with one count of sending by public communication grossly offensive racist messages. Retired in August 2009.

Ilford Recorder: The retired officers will appear in court.The retired officers will appear in court. (Image: PA)

The investigation found that the inappropriate communications were shared within a closed WhatsApp group between August 2018 and September 2022, the Met said.

The six ex-Met officers will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on September 7.

The six men were not serving at any point during their participation in the group, the force made clear.

The Met also added that throughout the officers' careers they spent time in a number of departments, including the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command.