Met officer who posted racist tweets found to have committed gross misconduct

A Metropolitan Police officer who posted offensive tweets about Jewish people and non-Muslims has been found to have committed gross misconduct.

Pc Ruby Begum admitted during a police misconduct hearing that she used discriminatory language such as “dirty Zionists. Hell is waiting”, while serving as a special constable.

The 29-year-old also admitted using the term “kuffar” to refer to non-believers, using a shortened version of Pakistani, and making controversial comments about the September 11 2001 terror attacks.

Around 25,000 posts were made between 2013 and 2019 under the Twitter, now X, username @ruby_beee, the hearing was told.

But the panel said they found her posts “appalling”, “derogatory” and “abusive” and told the defendant her actions amounted to gross misconduct, which could see her dismissed without notice.

Chairwoman Evis Samupfonda said: “(The posts) are derogatory and abusive, and also show a lack of tolerance for others who do not share the same characteristics as Ms Begum.

“It falls far below the standard of professional behaviour for police officers.

“Misconduct would not be far enough. (The tweets) are racist, discriminatory and intolerant.

“The panel’s decision is gross misconduct.”

Ms Begum gained widespread recognition in 2020 after a photo of her facing down anti-lockdown protesters in London went viral.

But in 2021, a Mail On Sunday article revealed her controversial posts on Twitter.

These included a series of derogatory posts about Jewish people, saying: “Dirty Zionists. Hell is waiting” and “Zionists have no heart”.

Ms Begum had previously told the panel she had “transformed” as a person since posting the tweets, adding: “I was silly. It was almost 10 years ago and I’ve developed a lot through the police.”

She later said: “It looks bad on paper and I can see how immature I was … I made a mistake which I’m sorry for.”

But the panel told the hearing they rejected her claims of immaturity as “she was an adult and a serving police officer”.

They also said Ms Begum underwent two rounds of equality and diversity training, once in 2014 when joining as a special constable and again in 2016 when becoming a full-time police constable.

“There is little doubt she breached the standards of professional behaviour expected for police officers.

“And her conduct continued while a serving member of the Metropolitan Police. The panel is appalled by Pc Begum’s behaviour.

“She has shown a lack of empathy for members of the public and her colleagues, and the tweets would undermine public confidence in the (Metropolitan Police).”

The panel retired on Wednesday afternoon to consider the appropriate outcome of the hearing.