Racist e-mail punishments blasted

Merseyside Police has defended its actions

Punishments handed out to officers caught up in a racist e-mail scandal have been criticised by the National Black Police Association (NBPA).

The maximum punishment handed out by Merseyside Police was the docking of three days' pay after an inquiry over the "grossly offensive" material.

Keith Jarret, of the NBPA, said this was "too light".

Merseyside Police said its inquiry had been a "cultural watershed" for the force and defended its actions.

A spokesman said: "All members of Merseyside Police staff know there is absolutely no place in this organisation for this kind of material.

You have to be seen to stamp on this kind of thing Keith Jarret, National Black Police Association

"We have new policies in place to prevent this kind of behaviour in the future, and all staff are now aware that anyone breaching the e-mail policy will face the severest of penalties."

But Mr Jarret said the force's actions compared badly with the neighbouring Greater Manchester Police (GMP) which had sacked officers for sending racist text messages.

He said: "If you look at what GMP did for racist junk being circulated on their text messages they were dismissed.

"A similar punishment to those officers would have been more appropriate. You have to be seen to stamp on this kind of thing."

500 staff reprimanded

The Merseyside Police inquiry discovered that e-mails containing racist, homophobic, sexist and pornographic material had been sent.

More than 500 members of staff were reprimanded following the five-month investigation.

Four officers and three support staff faced disciplinary hearings and received written warnings and fines of up to £360. Six other officers received written warnings.

A spokeswoman for the Commission for Racial Equality said it would investigate the e-mails but only if a complaint was received.

A Home Office spokesman said: "The Government is determined to tackle racism in the police service and is committed to working with the police service and police authorities to prevent all forms of racism and to ensure that all those who work in policing are treated fairly irrespective of their ethnic origin."