Met PC Ruby Begum sacked without warning over racist tweets

A Metropolitan Police officer who posted abusive tweets about Jews and non-Muslims has been sacked without warning.

Ruby Begum, 29, admitted at a police misconduct hearing that she used language such as “dirty Zionists” while serving as a special agent, but denied any serious misconduct.

He also admitted to using the term “kuffar” to refer to non-Muslims and making offensive comments about the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

But the Met’s misconduct panel ruled he had committed serious misconduct and breached standards of professional behavior on equality and diversity.

About 25,000 posts were made to his Twitter account – now X – between 2013 and 2019, the hearing was told.

Disparaging posts he made about Jews had included: “Dirty Zionists. Hell is waiting” and “Zionists have no heart,” the panel heard.

When asked about those comments, he said they were about the Israeli government and the deaths of Palestinians and that he “didn’t think it was an offensive term.”

“If I was describing Jewish people, I would just say Jewish people. I have nothing against Jews. I have no hatred for that group,” he said.

Ms Begum also made a series of posts about the 9/11 attacks, which she told the panel were a response to Islamophobic abuse that followed the attacks and did not mock the dead.

She had told the panel that her behavior was simple misconduct and a final warning would suffice.

Ms Begum previously told the panel: “I was a fool. It was almost 10 years ago and I’ve developed a lot through the police.

“It looks bad on paper and I can see how immature it was… I made a mistake that I’m sorry for.”

Ms Begum, who was brought up in a Muslim home in east London, said the comments were “disgraceful” and told the panel that her “narrow-minded” views at the time had been motivated by being raised in a “bubble”.

However, the panel found his posts to be “horrific”, “derogatory” and “abusive”.

He rejected her claims of immaturity as “she was an adult and a serving police officer” and noted that she underwent two rounds of equality and diversity training, once in 2014 when she joined as a special constable and again in 2016 by becoming a police time.

Supt Ch Colin Wingrove, of the Met, said: “There is absolutely no place within the Met for anyone with racist or otherwise hateful attitudes.”

He added: “We are working hard to build a culture where anyone can feel welcome and thrive.

“Those who undermine these objectives have no place in the organization. They are not fit to serve Londoners and they will feel the consequences.”

Following the hearing, Ms Begum will now be placed on the Police College’s disabled list.