Detective Constable Mark Luker, who was one of the first officers on the scene of the 2017 London Bridge terrorist attack, has been dismissed from the British Transport Police for gross misconduct. The officer used offensive and racist language towards the Roma and Traveller communities in a private WhatsApp group. The disciplinary panel found his conduct breached professional standards and undermined trust in the institution.

Dismissal for Racist Posts

Detective Constable Mark Luker of the British Transport Police has been dismissed for using the offensive term "pikey" and other derogatory terms in WhatsApp conversations about Roma and Traveller people.

Heroism During Terrorist Attack

Luker was one of the first officers to arrive at the scene of the bloody knife attack on London Bridge in June 2017, where eight people were killed.

Disciplinary Panel Decision

The disciplinary panel found that the officer's conduct constituted gross misconduct and undermined public trust in the police, leading to automatic dismissal.

Detective Constable Mark Luker, an officer with the British Transport Police (BTP), has been dismissed from service after a disciplinary panel found him guilty of gross misconduct. The reason was offensive messages he posted in a private WhatsApp group concerning the Roma, Gypsy and Traveller (GRT) communities. In the communication, he used, among other things, the strongly pejorative and widely considered racist term "pikey". One message also included the word "dags", a reference to Guy Ritchie's film "Snatch", in which a character has trouble understanding the accent of Irish Traveller boxers.

The terrorist attack on London Bridge and nearby Borough Market took place on the evening of June 3, 2017. Three perpetrators, linked to the so-called Islamic State, drove a van into pedestrians on the bridge and then attacked people with knives in the food market district. Eight people were killed and around 48 were injured in the attacks. The perpetrators were shot dead by police within eight minutes of the first report. It was one of a series of terrorist attacks in the United Kingdom in 2017. The decision to dismiss Luker carries particular weight because this officer was one of the first on the scene of that tragedy, which had previously earned him recognition. The disciplinary panel hearing the case stated that his "offensive and derogatory language" was "wholly unacceptable" for a police officer and constituted a gross breach of professional standards. „The language used by DC Luker was offensive, derogatory and wholly unacceptable for a police officer.” — Panel Chairman The panel emphasized that such behavior undermines public trust in police forces, which should serve and protect all citizens regardless of background.

The case sparks a broader discussion about internal culture within British police forces and their relationship with ethnic minorities. In recent years, police in the UK, including the famous Scotland Yard, have been criticized for numerous instances of racism, sexism, and homophobia within their ranks. British Transport Police conducts its own, independent disciplinary proceedings. The decision for Luker's automatic dismissal (which is equivalent to being fired) shows the institution treats such incidents with the utmost seriousness. This case also sheds light on the challenges associated with monitoring officers' private digital communication. Liberal media emphasize the systemic problem of racism in British police and the need for deep reforms to rebuild trust with marginalized communities. | Conservative media may frame the case as an isolated incident of bad behavior, costing the loss of an experienced officer, and question the boundaries of interference in private communication.

Mentioned People

  • Mark Luker — Detective Constable (DC) with the British Transport Police, dismissed for racist WhatsApp posts.
  • Guy Ritchie — British film director, author of the film 'Snatch', which was referenced in one of the offensive messages.