States of Jersey Police Officer Reprimanded for Homophobic Slurs
BBC News reports that a States of Jersey police officer directed homophobic slurs toward a group of young men and the admitted doing so on a video recording. Jersey is an island situated near the northwestern corner of France.
A video of the incident, obtained by ITV News, was confirmed as genuine by the States of Jersey Police.
"It shows a youth asking the male officer why he had just called other youths 'faggots'," reports ITV.
It is understood the video recording follows an attempt by a group of officers to break up a gathering of youths, at a time when such gatherings were being discouraged during the 'safe exit' from lockdown.
Sources say the police officers involved faced verbal, but no physical, provocation.
At his hearing, BBC News reports, the officer pleaded guilty to two charges for use of prejudicial language, stating he was "apologetic and fully remorseful of his comments and behavior."
Robin Smith, chief of police, said officers are expected to maintain high professional standards and the department does not "condone any form of prejudicial conduct of language." Further, the department is consulting with the LGBTQ community on bettering the relationship between the department and citizens.