PC sent 'disturbing' racist and misogynistic memes

A police officer has been sacked without notice for sending "disturbing" racist and misogynistic memes, including one joking about domestic abuse.

PC Luke Hurst, who had been suspended from duty, was barred from policing during a misconduct hearing at Avon and Somerset Police Headquarters earlier.

The panel found he had texted discriminatory views about "foreigners" and remarked on the absence of white people in an area he was driving through.

Panel chair Craig Holden ruled his behaviour had amounted to gross misconduct, adding that "the severity of the officer's actions are significant" and "outrageous".

Hurst, who is based in Bridgwater, had his personal mobile phone seized as part of an investigation in May 2025.

Analysis revealed he had sent three racist memes to a friend, replied to one expressing the view it was funny, sent a misogynistic meme, and expressed discriminatory opinions about "foreigners".

Barrister Mark Ley-Morgan, representing the force, told the hearing: "The memes are appalling and some of them are disturbing.

"It is difficult to believe that anyone could find them remotely amusing."

In the officer's written response to the allegations, he said: "I accept that when shared publicly, these messages present me in a poor light.

"The messages were always part of a private conversation with close personal friends and were never meant to be seen by anybody else.

"We share a similar sense of humour.

"I am not a racist or misogynistic person and these messages do not represent views that I hold."

The panel also heard the constable sent WhatsApp messages to his then-partner in February and April 2025, asking her to submit a false Universal Credit application.

Hurst encouraged her to misrepresent their living arrangements in an attempt to fraudulently claim benefits they were not entitled to, which she refused to do.

In addition, while suspended, he took on a full-time factory job without prior business interest approval.

Det Supt Larisa Hunt, head of the Professional Standards Department, warned there are "significant consequences" for officers who abuse social media platforms, and, in some cases, even criminal proceedings.

"There must be no place in policing for these abhorrent views and whenever they are uncovered, we'll take swift and decisive action," she said.

"We take these matters extremely seriously and continue to urge our officers and staff to call out all forms of discrimination whenever its seen or heard.

"There are confidential reporting systems and support services in place to allow them to do this."

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