A former student police officer has been swiftly dismissed from West Midlands Police following findings of serious misconduct stemming from offensive remarks made during training.
The dismissal follows a hearing on April 9th where PC Tranter was found to have demonstrated an “unconscious racial bias” through his words and actions, constituting gross misconduct. The incidents occurred in June and July of 2023 while he was participating in a rigorous twenty-week training program.
During one session on June 30th, PC Tranter reportedly stated comments suggesting that individuals fitting certain physical characteristics – specifically mentioning beards and turbans – were indicative of terrorists. This occurred in the presence of four other student officers. The training course itself focused heavily on professional standards, ethical conduct, and the importance of positive relationships with diverse communities.
Just eight days later, a session led by the professional standards department included an example demonstrating the inappropriateness of referring to a mixed-race person as an “Oreo.” PC Tranter reacted to this scenario by laughing, an action witnessed by two colleagues. One officer testified that she clearly observed his facial expression and body language indicating amusement.
While admitting to making the initial comment about terrorists, PC Tranter argued it amounted only to misconduct, not gross misconduct. He denied finding the “Oreo” remark humorous, claiming his laughter was directed at what he perceived as the foolishness of the original statement. He expressed remorse for both incidents and maintained that he held no racist beliefs.
The officer attributed his lapses in judgment to autism, a condition diagnosed in 2016, explaining that it requires him to carefully consider potential misinterpretations before speaking. Despite this explanation, PC Tranter conceded during questioning that “he should have known better.”
The misconduct panel definitively rejected the notion of these actions as minor or unintentional, stating they were “deliberate and intentional” and “serious on both counts.” The report emphasized:
“It appears to the panel that the officer still does not accept the seriousness of his actions and the impact upon others and this was much more than instances of poor or misplaced humour.”
The panel also noted a lack of learning from his colleagues’ negative reactions to his initial remark. PC Tranter’s conduct was deemed to have violated established professional standards relating to authority, respect, courtesy, equality and diversity, and discreditable conduct.
Chief Constable Craig Guildford, along with independent panel members Dawn Quick and Christopher Green, and legally qualified advisor Harry Ireland, oversaw the misconduct hearing. The final report concluded that PC Tranter’s behavior “fell well below the standards” expected of a police officer, causing a significant negative impact on those present.
The panel’s conclusion was unequivocal: “It caused a negative impact on others present and the panel found that this was far from a trifling matter.”
