Exclusive: Whistleblower reveals misogyny and racism in West Midlands Police

Summary

Rebecca Callum, a former firearms officer with the West Midlands Police, exposes a toxic culture of misogyny, racism, and sexism within the force. In an exclusive interview, she details her personal experiences, including sexual harassment, discriminatory practices, and lack of proper protective equipment for women. Despite her whistleblowing, which led to a tribunal victory, the police force downplayed the issues and failed to enact meaningful change. Callum warns that unaddressed toxic behavior could lead to more serious scandals, urging for cultural reform within the police.

Takeaways

• 😀 Rebecca Callum, a former Firearms officer, exposed a culture of misogyny and racism within the West Midlands Police, which led to the end of her career.
• 😀 Despite facing dismissal and victimization, Callum continued to stand up against discriminatory behavior, including racist and sexist actions within the police force.
• 😀 Callum revealed instances of derogatory comments, inappropriate behavior, and misconduct by colleagues, including sharing pornographic and racist content on social media.
• 😀 The Firearms unit's culture was described as insular, with a significant presence of sexism, misogyny, and racism, which was often dismissed as 'banter.'
• 😀 Callum's complaints about inadequate body armor for female officers, including wearing male-centric ballistic armor, were ignored for years, endangering women's safety.
• 😀 The West Midlands Police's internal investigation into the allegations led to low-level sanctions for 16 officers, but many others were never fully scrutinized.
• 😀 Callum was subjected to derogatory nicknames, including being called 'tikka masala,' a reference to her ethnicity, by some officers who were supposed to be protecting her.
• 😀 Despite her allegations and the findings of the tribunal, some officers continued to question Callum's motives, accusing her of seeking financial gain.
• 😀 Callum's efforts were driven by a desire for cultural change within the police force and to ensure the safety and dignity of women and ethnic minorities in policing.
• 😀 Former police diversity head Tony Burnett expressed frustration over the systemic issues in the police force, stating that solutions to these problems were often inadequate and that change required external intervention.

Q & A

What led Rebecca Callum to become a whistleblower within West Midlands Police?

Rebecca Callum exposed a culture of misogyny and racism within the Firearms unit of West Midlands Police, particularly highlighting issues such as inappropriate behavior, discrimination, and poor treatment of women and ethnic minorities. Her whistleblowing was motivated by the need for cultural change and proper investigation into these issues.

What were some of the specific incidents of discrimination that Callum faced in the Firearms unit?

Callum faced numerous discriminatory incidents including being told she only joined the unit because of her ethnicity, having to strip down in front of male officers during training, and enduring inappropriate comments from colleagues. She also witnessed sexist and racist social media content being shared within the unit.

What role did social media play in the toxic culture within the Firearms unit?

Social media played a significant role in perpetuating the toxic culture within the Firearms unit. Officers shared racist, sexist, and pornographic material, including degrading images of women and offensive caricatures of ethnic minorities. Despite Callum's complaints, these actions were dismissed by higher-ups as 'just banter,' and no criminal investigations were pursued.

How did Callum's complaint regarding body armor for women highlight gender-based issues in the police force?

Callum's complaint revealed that female officers were required to wear out-of-date, ill-fitting body armor designed for male anatomy, causing physical discomfort and safety concerns. When she raised the issue, her concerns were ignored, and she was told to wear a compression bra instead of appropriate protective gear.

What was the response from West Midlands Police to Callum's allegations?

West Midlands Police acknowledged the issues in a general sense, stating that they had worked hard to improve culture and standards within the Firearms unit. However, the police force dismissed many of Callum’s complaints, and when investigations were conducted, only low-level sanctions were applied, even though Callum believed many officers should have faced much more serious scrutiny.

How did the culture of misogyny and racism affect the treatment of female and ethnic minority officers in the unit?

The culture within the Firearms unit was characterized by insularity and a lack of accountability, which resulted in discriminatory behavior toward female and ethnic minority officers. Women were treated as the 'lesser sex' and faced sexual harassment and exclusion. Ethnic minorities, like Callum, were often subjected to racism and tokenized, with some officers openly mocking different cultures.

Why did Rebecca Callum pursue legal action against West Midlands Police?

Rebecca Callum pursued legal action because of the systemic sexism, harassment, and victimization she faced after challenging the culture of the Firearms unit. She believed that legal action was necessary to secure better protective equipment for female officers and to demand cultural change within the police force.

What was the outcome of Rebecca Callum’s tribunal case against West Midlands Police?

Rebecca Callum won her tribunal case, with the police force accepting 75 allegations of sex discrimination, harassment, and victimization. The case centered on issues like inadequate protective equipment and cultural issues within the unit. Callum is now in line for a significant compensation payout.

What role did leadership and management play in the perpetuation of the toxic culture within the police force?

Leadership and management within West Midlands Police, including senior officers such as the then-Chief Constable, were implicated in perpetuating the toxic culture. The failure to address issues raised by officers like Callum and the lack of effective investigation into allegations allowed discriminatory behavior to continue. Leadership was also accused of not taking responsibility or instituting necessary changes.

How does Tony Burnett, former head of diversity and inclusion for West Midlands Police, view the current state of policing culture?

Tony Burnett believes that the police are stuck in a 'vicious cycle of stupidity,' where the same issues of racism and sexism continue to occur without appropriate solutions. He argues that the culture of policing is insular and resistant to change, with some leaders unable or unwilling to address systemic problems. He advocates for bringing in new recruits and outsiders to break this cycle and improve the legitimacy of the police.