Trigger warning: some of the comments are deeply offensive
A vulgar and misogynistic Met Police officer was secretly filmed dismissing an attempted rape suspect’s girlfriend as ‘a bit f***ing dumb.’ PC Fernando Santos dos Santos’ comments were broadcast on the BBC’s hugely controversial Panorama last year, which revealed evidence of racism and misogyny at Charing Cross Police station.
Santos dos Santos was also caught joking with a police colleague, saying, “You don’t wanna pull that, trust me”, about the suspect’s girlfriend. At an accelerated police misconduct hearing on June 24, Santos dos Santos admitted he made the comments, but said this was to demonstrate his bemusement about the fact that the suspect’s girlfriend had not understood who had made the allegation of rape against her partner.
He accepted his comment was not particularly kind but denied it was grossly offensive or insulting.
Panorama also revealed him saying, “You can always justify the use of force,” when reminded of the need to do so by a colleague. Dos Santos described the ‘f***ing beautiful’ moment a custody sergeant used force on a suspect. He described it as “‘the best Spartan kick I’ve ever seen in my life.” He added: “And the sergeant just went, f***ing get back [mimed kicking], just kicked him in the chest.” The disgraced cop eerily said he “just wanted to laugh.”
He denied glorifying any use of force, saying his comment “demonstrates his passion for the job”, but said it did not represent a wider enjoyment or glorification of violence.
In the same conversation, he spoke menacingly about people considering taking their own lives. “…most of their f***ing jumpers are from the counties, they come to jump here because they’re seeking attention… because we give it to them… there, they don’t like ‘you’re going to jump? ‘yeah we’ve been to you before, you’re not going to f***ing do shit, see you later,” he said.
The disgraced copper accepted that this is not a particularly sensitive term to use, but said at the hearing it was “the common lingo that is used within the police”, adding he intended no disrespect by using this rhetoric.
Commander Andy Brittain sacked Santos Dos Santos without notice and placed him on the police barred list.
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