Rick Prior, formerly the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, has been permanently removed from his role and barred from future elections following a dispute over comments he made regarding policing concerns.
The elected representative of London’s police officers faced suspension in October after an interview with GB News where he expressed worry that officers were hesitant to engage with ethnic minority communities. These remarks were subsequently deemed problematic by the federation and sparked significant controversy.
Prior contended that anxieties surrounding investigations from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) had led officers to become cautious in their application of the law across all demographics. He cited concerns about “vexatious” complaints as a contributing factor, referencing cases like the widely publicized Croydon bus ticket incident involving PC Perry Lathwood, whose initial assault conviction was later overturned on appeal.
A statement from the Policing Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) confirmed Prior’s dismissal: “We can confirm that Rick Prior, Chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, has been found in breach of the Federation’s Standards. As a result, Rick has been removed from his position as Chair and as a Federation representative and also prevented from standing for election to any Federation position. Both sanctions are imposed on a permanent basis.”
The situation escalated after Prior initiated a crowdfunding campaign to challenge his suspension in court, supported by the Free Speech Union. A review of the case’s outcome revealed that Prior had violated the terms of his suspension by discussing it publicly with GB News presenter Martin Daubney.
Prior maintains he was targeted due to “a high degree of political animus,” and defended his original statements, stating in an interview with the People’s Channel:
“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.”
He further asserted: “The federation took my voice away and officers have suffered because of that. Everything they have done is antithetical to the interests of the officers who pay their wages.” He has vowed to continue his fight in the High Court, requiring another crowdfunding effort.
Labour MP Jonathan Hinder, a former Met Police inspector, criticized the PFEW’s actions, stating:
- “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.”
Hinder called on the Police Federation to address the situation, adding: “The Police Federation has big questions to answer on this.”
The PFEW declined to provide further details regarding the case, adhering to their standard policy on governance matters.
