A former detective inspector, Steve Wragg, has been permanently barred from policing after a gross misconduct hearing held on August 11 revealed that he would have been dismissed if he had not resigned earlier.
Between April 2020 and January 2022, Wragg exchanged inappropriate, misogynistic, and discriminatory WhatsApp messages. Some of these messages referenced a man who died from a drug overdose at a scene Wragg had attended as an officer. Additionally, he failed to report or challenge a colleague’s similarly inappropriate WhatsApp messages during the same period.
In June 2021, Wragg was found to have conspired to leak information about an inspector promotion process to give a candidate an unfair advantage, further compounding the allegations against him.
Nottinghamshire Police’s Professional Standards Directorate launched a thorough investigation after being alerted to Wragg’s conduct. Throughout the inquiry, eight staff members affected and the deceased man’s family were kept informed.
Detective Superintendent Hayley Williams, Head of Professional Standards, stated, “Wragg behaved in a deplorable manner. We don’t want anyone working for our force sharing these views, in or outside work.” She added, “His conduct fell way below the high standards we expect. He resigned in February 2023, but today’s hearing confirmed he would have been dismissed. He’s now on the College of Policing barred list and banned from policing for life.”
Williams emphasized the importance of public trust, saying, “Public trust is vital, and we will act swiftly against anyone who threatens it.”
Chief Constable Kate Meynell condemned Wragg’s behaviour as “abhorrent and completely unacceptable.” She affirmed, “This will not be tolerated. We will remove anyone who fails to meet our exceptionally high standards without hesitation. Their actions undermine the brave work of colleagues risking their lives daily to keep the public safe.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
