A Dorset Police inspector has been told he will never police again after being found guilty of posting offensive messages and failing to challenge the behaviour of colleagues he supervised.

Inspector Nicholas Mantle has been placed on the barred list by the College of Policing after a public misconduct hearing on Friday, June 2 found that he breached the standards of professional behaviour.

Inspector Mantle returned on Tuesday, August 15, when the independent panel removed him from the organisation.

He was one of four officers, and one former officer, who attended the hearing to face allegations by the force’s Professional Standards Department in July and August 2022.

These related to incidents of bullying and discriminatory conduct by a group of officers, who were serving at the time as part of the Force Support Group (FSG).

Inspector Mantle was a sergeant at the time and had supervisory responsibility for colleagues in the team.

The panel ruled that the contents of the WhatsApp group contained sexual, pornographic, misogynistic, homophobic, racist, bullying, abusive, offensive and inappropriate messages.

However, there was insufficient evidence of officers making verbal racist or homophobic comments in the presence of other officers.

The panel also did not find evidence that wall art, which was alleged to have been placed in the office but was never recovered, was offensive.

Inspector Mantle was found guilty of posting two offensive images in the WhatsApp group, for not leaving the group and failing to treat members of the public and colleagues with respect and/or courtesy.

He also breached the standards of professional behaviour concerning equality and diversity by posting one message and failing to challenge derogatory and offensive behaviour of others he supervised.

PC Mark Jordan-Gill and former officer Paul Perdrisat were also found guilty of gross misconduct at the hearing.

READ MORE: Bournemouth police officer sacked for sharing offensive messages

They returned to the panel on Tuesday, June 13 where PC Jordan-Gill was dismissed with immediate effect.

Mr Perdrisat was told he would have also been dismissed had he not already resigned.

Both officers were also placed on the barred list.

Serving officers, PC Michael Lowther and PC Matthew Young were found guilty of misconduct.

PC Lowther was handed a written warning after being found to have challenged the behaviour in the WhatsApp group and also leaving the group.

PC Young was issued with a final written warning after admitting to failing to challenge the other officers but had extremely limited participation in the group.

Following the conclusion and final hearing of Inspector Mantle, Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Farrell, Dorset Police’s lead for professional standards, said: “I would like to thank colleagues in our Counter Corruption Unit for the detailed and thorough investigation they presented to the panel, which enabled them to make the decision they have.

“Inspector Nicholas Mantle was in a trusted supervisory role when he breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour by not only failing to challenge the derogatory and biased actions of colleagues within the team but also encouraged it by posting two offensive images to the group.

“His lack of action in failing to challenge this behaviour and failing to act when PC Lowther called it out is completely unacceptable.

“This is not the type of leader we wish to have in our force and as this case has shown we will robustly investigate offences and, if appropriate, remove individuals from the organisation.

“The public quite rightly expect the highest standards of behaviour from serving police officers and staff as this is a core component of maintaining the trust of our communities.

“I know the actions of these officers will have let our communities down.

“It is important to remind the public that this behaviour is not indicative of the overwhelming majority of our staff and teams out delivering quality policing every day to protect people and make Dorset a safe county for everyone.

“We are committed to driving up standards of behaviour within Dorset and ongoing work includes adopting learning across the organisation from this case to stamp out such behaviour, delivering inclusion training to officers and staff, and ensuring our vetting and enhanced vetting obligations are being met and fit for purpose.”

Dorset Police are urging the public to come forward if they have any concerns about members of the force.

Anyone can report any concerns to Dorset Police by calling 101 or emailing countercorruptionunit.dorset@dorset.pnn.police.uk. Corruption can also be reported online at www.dorset.police.uk/contact/report-police-corruption/.

Alternatively, the public can contact the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) – details of which can be found via their website www.policeconduct.gov.uk or anonymously via the Crimestoppers charity online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or freephone 0800 555 111.