Met PC given warning over 'cotton pickers' jibe

A Metropolitan police officer has been given a final warning after a misconduct panel found she had used the term "cotton pickers" to refer to black colleagues.

The panel said PC Mia Korell committed gross misconduct for using the words in an off-duty conversation with a fellow officer.

PC Korell, who is black, had denied using the offensive phrase in her exchange with Insp Alistair Phillips - while they were both off duty - in Guildford on 7 October 2022, saying "it is not part of my vernacular".

A misconduct panel on Tuesday ruled she had said the "derogatory, disrespectful and racist" term and she was given a final written warning, to last five years.

Cdr Jason Prins, chairman of the misconduct panel, said they were satisfied the expression was intended to be derogatory, discourteous to black officers "and that the word is racist in nature".

He added that the panel found Mr Phillips "had no motive to fabricate the allegation and it would have reflected badly on his career had he done so".

Cdr Prins said the panel found the words used "fitted the context of the conversation" and gave weight to Mr Phillips being "100% sure" that cotton pickers was said.

He said that PC Korell's use of the words was "out of character" and the panel did not consider her to be "inherently racist".

Insp Phillips and PC Korell were discussing whether the Territorial Support Group (TSG) was a racist unit, after a chance meeting near the University of Surrey, where the policewoman is studying for a PhD on the experience of black police officers.

The TSG is responsible for public order policing, responding to disorder, riots and high priority crimes across London.

PC Korell used the term "cotton pickers" to describe black officers who did not believe the TSG was a racist unit, the misconduct hearing was told on Monday.

Insp Phillips alleged that she asked him if he believed the TSG, which both officers were part of at the time, was racist, to which he replied he did not.

"The conversation was fairly clear," Insp Phillips told the panel. "I don't think there was any misunderstanding. I am 100% sure that was the exact phrase used."

The hearing was told Insp Phillips emailed PC Korell's line manager to report her language on 17 October 2022.

The panel ruled PC Korell had breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour in the force, in respect of discreditable conduct, authority, respect and courtesy, and equality and diversity.

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