A disciplinary panel heard how a group of 'disgraced' police officers who worked in Greater Manchester had shared derogatory, racist and homophobic posts in a group chat, and that they 'revelled' in drug use.

Led by an independent legally qualified chair, the panel heard how a WhatsApp group had been established between three former and serving GMP officers where offensive messages were shared.

Former PC Ashley Feest and PC Graham Atkinson were part of this WhatsApp group that they called 'the Dispensables' and were found to have sent racist and homophobic posts in the chat, as well as messages relating to drugs use and supply.

The group also contained Aaron Jones, who was a serving officer before he resigned in 2021 after being convicted of offering to supply Class C drugs.

Jones was dismissed from GMP.

While his girlfriend, PC Rebekah Kelly, was not part of the WhatsApp group, the panel said she failed to report racist and derogatory text messages that Jones had sent to her.

At the hearing, PCs Atkinson and Feest accepted their behaviour amounted to gross misconduct but PC Kelly denied the allegations.

PC Kelly was dismissed without notice and has been added to the College of Policing's Barred List.

PC Atkinson was given a final written warning.

The panel also said Feest, who resigned in March 2021 following a failed drugs test for anabolic steroids, would have been dismissed had he still been serving.

Feest will also be added to the Barred List.

At the time of the incidents, all three officers worked in GMP's City of Manchester north division.

Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Allen, head of GMP Professional Standards Branch, said: “The conduct of these officers was a complete disgrace and it is fitting that three members of the WhatsApp group now find themselves barred from policing for life, with one also carrying a criminal conviction for offering to supply drugs.

“Whilst messages were sent across personal WhatsApp accounts, given the racist and homophobic content, in addition to other communications revelling in the misuse of drugs, any right to privacy these officers thought they had was ousted by their abhorrent conduct.

“The shameful behaviour of these officers risks undermining the noble work of all in GMP who serve our diverse communities with kindness and this is why I have no hesitation in demonstrating, very publicly, the hard line that will be taken when such repugnant behaviour is detected.

“GMP have given a firm commitment to expelling those whose behaviour risks bringing policing into disrepute and members of the ‘the Dispensables’ WhatsApp group may now recognise that our actions very much match our words given their now dispensed status from policing."