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Warrington Wolves player sacked by Merseyside Police over racist WhatsApp messages
A female police officer who plays for Warrington Wolves has been sacked for sending racist WhatsApp messages.
Former constable Samantha Simpson, who plays outside backs for the women’s rugby league side, had worked for Merseyside police since July 2017. She was dismissed without notice following a misconduct hearing which found she had breached the standards of professional behaviour.
Simpson has also been “stood down from selection with immediate effect”, Warrington Wolves confirmed last night. In a statement, the club added that it would be “making further inquiries with the player”.
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A misconduct hearing, held at Merseyside police headquarters, on Tuesday, June 6, found she had breached police conduct regulations on multiple occasions between July 2019 to January 2022. Most of the breaches were in the form of WhatsApp messages, where Simpson repeatedly used the racial slur “P***,” reports the Liverpool Echo.
Following the publication of yesterday’s story, Warrington Wolves released a statement saying: “Warrington Wolves is aware of today’s newspaper report regarding our women’s player Samantha Simpson. The Club recognises the seriousness of this report and will be making further inquiries with the player. Samantha has been stood down from selection with immediate effect. The Club will be making no further comment at this stage.”
Screenshots of the WhatsApp messages, sent between Simpson and her former boyfriend Ben Jones, where shown during the hearing. On July 8, 2019, Simpson spoke to her then boyfriend Ben Jones, over WhatsApp, while she was on duty. They discussed mobile phone holders and and whether they’re on sale in garages.
As part of the conversation, she sent a message that read: “Won’t be leaving, just got some paperwork to do, I am gonna actually go into a phone shop in town tho, I don’t go to them garages cause they’ve got weird pervy P*** in them, like never have gone in there xxxx”
On April 20, 2020, on duty, she referred to a retailer as a “P*** shop.” On May 21, 2020, in an exchange of messages with Ben Jones, she asked: “Ben if we go to the place to pick up tea tonight, can we go the lil P*** shop, I’m really feeling some crisps like a big bag of em aha.”
When discussing whether or not she should have added a member of her wrestling team, on June 2, 2020, Ben said: “Did we make a promise” to which Simpson replied “Yeah sorry but he doesn’t really count he’s an Indian. Like a p*** basically.”
She then sent him a screen shot and pointed out the person who had been added, Ben Jones, reiterates your agreement with him and states “Looks like a P*** as well not” to which she responded: “Yep well he’s Indian, I call them all P****, not white or English is he.”
On November 5, 2020, she asked Ben: “Reckon the p*** shop on Old Roan will sell sparklers.” On April 29, 2021, she sent a phone number of her friend to Ben.
When he asked what it was for, she responded that it was in case she was kidnapped. After leaving his keys in a taxi, she said: “He’s dropping them off tomorrow, some old P******.”
Speaking about a trip to the Manchester markets, on May 4, 2021, she said: “No the P**** ones.” Ben replied saying “Oh the Asian community ones” to which she replied “Yeah.”
When buying clothes and boots, she commented: “Omfg they have given me the wrong boots Ben, no, the f***** P**** c****, hasn’t checked the box has he.”
A further five occasions were identified where Simpson used the word “P****” but they were not detailed and shown in the hearing. The hearing concluded the language used by Simpson in the messages contradicts her oath and shows a “complete lack of respect for all members” of the community.
Chaired by Chief Constable Kennedy the Accelerated Misconduct Hearing was held at Merseyside Police Headquarters on Tuesday, June 6, this year. During the hearing , it was said: “It is my view that an officer who is prepared to use this language has no place in policing and it would absolutely and quite rightly undermine the trust and confidence in Merseyside Police, if they were to remain in Merseyside Police.
“I considered whether a final written warning is appropriate in this case and for the reasons given above, I do not think that it is. My sanction in this case is immediate dismissal without notice.” Former constable Simpson did not attend the hearing and there were no further submissions made on her behalf during the meeting.
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