Sacked PC Denies Tweeting from Exeter
A police officer sacked for tweeting that police bosses were ‘lower than slime’ has denied any connection to the account responsible.
Tony Ryan, 33, a was dismissed from Avon and Somerset Police for gross misconduct last week (8 April) after a disciplinary panel decided that he was the author of the @TheBritishCop twitter account, which had tweeted dergotory remarks about Avon and Somerset police bosses.
However Mr Ryan has vigorously denied any connection to the account and that many of the tweets posted by @TheBritishCop had been 'geotagged' in places he had never been, including Exeter.
Tweets were also posted from Truro and Paris and at times inconsistent with Mr Ryan’s movements.
In a blog post, reported by the PoliceOracle.com, Mr Ryan writes: "The hearing was 'a witch hunt'. The evidence presented, including proof that PC Ryan had not been to the countries @thebritishcop tweeted about, was ignored.
"I presented all the information to the contrary, called my witnesses, and let the panel decide hoping common sense would prevail. It obviously did not.
"I was dismissed without notice. My sergeant told the panel it was a disgrace."
Avon and Somerset’s Professional Standards Department (PSD), began an investigation into Mr Ryan last October after tweets criticising the force and the PSD itself began in March last year .
Mr Ryan had already received a formal written warning over previous social media use and had four separate twitter accounts during the period.
However when the investigation began Mr Ryan offered his mobile phone, computer and email accounts for examination by the PSD but was not taken up on the offer.
The account Mr Ryan is alleged to have written has now changed its security settings so that tweets are not publically available. But in a public message before the change @TheBritishCop wrote: "I told PSD of A&S that I was not in their force.
"I know many Avon and Somerset and Devon and Cornwall officers, as well as a couple of Gloucestershire police officers.
“What they've done to the officer in A&S is a disgrace. They will no doubt do the same to me if I go public."
Chief Inspector Kevan Rowlands, Deputy Department Head of the Avon and Somerset Police's Professional Standards Department said: "Our attention was drawn to inappropriate and offensive comments being made on social media between March and October last year, which were suspected to have been posted by a serving police officer.
"Following an internal investigation, a misconduct hearing was held. As a result on Tuesday, the officer was dismissed.
"We actively encourage staff to use our official Twitter and Facebook accounts to inform and engage with their local communities.
"We expect all employees who use social media – whether in work or away from work - to adhere to the new College of Policing’s Code of Ethics, which aims to ensure staff maintain integrity and the highest standards of behaviour.
"We will not tolerate any offensive or inappropriate comments being made on social media by our staff – whether at work or outside. This will result in us looking into the matter and may result in criminal action or possible misconduct enquiries,"
Mr Ryan is currently seeking legal advice over his dismissal.
