Charles Ehikioya, a Nigerian-born inspector in the UK Metropolitan Police Service, has been accused of gross misconduct after it was alleged that he received and sent inappropriate messages in a WhatsApp group belonging to police officers.

According to a February 13 Voice-Online UK story, Ehikioya, 55, who is the chair of the force’s Black Police Association (MetBPA), is to face disciplinary proceedings for not reporting the incident to the appropriate unit when it happened.

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While reacting to the incident, however, the National Black Police Association (NBPA) in the UK accused the hierarchy of the metropolitan police of high-handedness, insisting that Ehikioya had been racially abused in the WhatsApp group and should be treated as the victim.

Details surrounding the charges against Ehikioya have not been released to the public by the metropolitan police.

Meanwhile, Andy George, NBPA president, has accused Mark Rowley, Commissioner of Police, of turning down a meeting with him following the incident.

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George went on to claim that Rowley’s refusal to talk clearly showed that the force lacked the ability to carry out a much desired reform that black police officers in the UK had been clamouring for.

“There has been a desire to silence dissenting voices, including an attempt to weaken the MetBPA who have spoken out against racism within the MPS for 30 years,” said George.

When a year-long review aimed at improving policing standards in the UK was carried out and published in March 2023, it was concluded that the metropolitan police was plagued with institutional racism, sexism and homophobia.