Rick Prior, formerly the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, has been permanently removed from his role following controversial remarks made to GB News regarding concerns within policing. The decision marks a significant development in a dispute that began last October when Mr. Prior was initially suspended after expressing worries about officers’ interactions with London’s ethnic minority communities.
Mr. Prior, who represented London police officers, stated he believed officers were exhibiting reluctance to enforce the law impartially across all demographics. He attributed this hesitancy to anxieties surrounding investigations by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which he described as potentially “vexatious.”
The Policing Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) confirmed Mr. Prior’s removal in a statement:
“We can confirm that Rick Prior, Chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, has been found to be in breach of the Federation’s Standards. Consequently, he has been removed from his position as Chair, as a Federation representative, and is prohibited from seeking election to any Federation post – all sanctions are permanent.”
Mr. Prior’s comments arose amidst scrutiny following several high-profile court cases, including a widely publicized incident involving a Croydon bus ticket dispute. Police Constable Perry Lathwood was initially convicted of assault in connection with the situation, although this conviction was later overturned on appeal.
While the Metropolitan Police’s Professional Standards team determined that Mr. Prior’s interview did not constitute misconduct, he remained suspended. This suspension ultimately led to a permanent dismissal after Mr. Prior launched a crowdfunding campaign to challenge his initial suspension through legal channels, an effort supported by the Free Speech Union.
According to documents obtained by GB News, the formal decision cited Mr. Prior’s “commenting to the media about your suspension and the allegations against you” as a violation of the conditions of his suspension.
Mr. Prior voiced his belief that political motives underpinned his removal, stating:
“I had to crowdfund with the Free Speech Union and they’ve gone after me for speaking about my campaign to fight the suspension. I’ve had loads and loads of support and I won’t stop.”
He has vowed to escalate the matter to the High Court, requiring further crowdfunding efforts.
Reflecting on his earlier interview, Mr. Prior asserted:
- “I’d say it all again because that was and still is the main concern among officers that I was elected to represent.”
- “Officers felt political pressure to avoid doing their jobs. This was happening all the time.”
- “The federation took my voice away, and officers have suffered because of that.”
The permanent dismissal has triggered political response. Labour MP Jonathan Hinder questioned the Police Federation’s actions, emphasizing Mr. Prior’s role as an elected representative:
“Rick Prior was representing the views of frontline officers, as he was elected to do. That he should be silenced and now dismissed for doing his job is shocking.”
Mr. Hinder further stated that the Police Federation has “big questions to answer on this matter.”
The PFEW declined to provide specific details regarding the case, stating that they would adhere to their standard policy on governance matters.
