The families of the Nottingham attack victims have condemned police officers for sending “barbaric” WhatsApp messages from the crime scene, describing their loved ones as being “properly butchered.”
Emma Webber, the mother of one of the victims, penned an open letter to the members of the WhatsApp group, expressing her outrage over the insensitive and degrading language used. She questioned whether the officers had considered the terror and agony experienced by her son and his friend as they were ambushed and stabbed repeatedly.
The officer who sent the messages did not face a misconduct hearing but received management intervention. A second officer was found guilty of gross misconduct for forwarding the message to his wife and friends. He was also given a final written warning for searching for records relating to the attacker despite not being involved in the investigation.
Mrs Webber called for tougher action against the officers involved and urged the author of the message to show more compassion and respect in the future. Dr Sanjoy Kumar, the father of another victim, said the message was “disgusting” and brought him to tears every time he read it.
Nottinghamshire Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct after the families raised concerns, including the failure to inform them about the investigation into the officers. The College of Policing is also conducting a review of the force’s handling of the case.
The incident has raised questions about the conduct of police officers and the need for greater sensitivity when dealing with victims and their families. The families of the Nottingham attack victims are seeking justice and accountability for the insensitive and unprofessional behavior of the officers involved.
