A dozen officers have been investigated over their conduct arising from a ‘toxic’ culture created by Paul Street
Cambridgeshire’s most senior police officer has slammed a group of cops over “truly disgraceful” conduct that involved a toxic WhatsApp culture. Ex-police sergeant Paul Street, 41, encouraged his team to bully a teenage detainee and asked a colleague to send him a sex video of a female suspect.
The offences were committed while Street was working at Cambridgeshire Constabulary, leading a team at Cambourne Police Station which dealt with county lines drug supply and organised crime. Street, of Huntingdon, was convicted of two charges of misconduct in a public office after a trial at the Old Bailey.
The trial was told 12 other officers had been investigated over their conduct arising from the ‘toxic’ culture Street had created. PC Josh Williams, 38, from Huntingdon, pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office.
Of 11 others who were investigated, two resigned, one was dismissed for gross misconduct, one received a final warning, two received written warnings, and five others were dealt with for low level performance issues.
Chief Constable Simon Megicks said: “The behaviour of these former officers was truly disgraceful and does not reflect the high standards we expect of our police officers. Their actions will understandably undermine the trust and confidence of our community – they did not reflect the values we hold as an organisation, nor did they treat their colleagues or members of the public with the respect and integrity they deserve.”
Mr Megicks said Street “thought he was beyond reproach and encouraged his colleagues to feel the same”. He praised those who “stand up for what is right, especially highlighting the inappropriate behaviour of someone in a higher rank to them – it is the ethical thing to do, even if it is difficult”.
He continued: “I want to reassure the community of Cambridgeshire that both criminal behaviour, and not upholding policing standards by our officers and staff simply will not be condoned. Allegations against any of our officers or staff are always subject to a thorough investigation, either by our professional standards department or by the IOPC, to ensure that those who do not meet the high standards expected of them, in order to maintain public trust and confidence, are dealt with robustly.
“We recognise the impact the behaviour of the officers in this case will have both on the people of Cambridgeshire and our own colleagues, however, I would like to reassure everyone that the vast majority of our officers and staff come to work each day to protect the public and do so with honesty and integrity.”
Jurors cleared Street of assaulting a drug dealer during an arrest occasioning actual bodily harm, and perverting the course of justice afterwards. He appeared on BBC show Britain’s Teenage Drug Runners in 2017, and in 2019 was on Channel 4’s Famous And Fighting Crime documentary.
Officers within the anti-corruption squad uncovered Street’s two WhatsApp groups in 2021 after a new police officer reported him. The court heard the probes focused on two WhatsApp groups created by Street, one including 17 colleagues and a second for his “inner circle”.
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