Three Metropolitan Police officers have been dismissed for gross misconduct following revelations from a BBC Panorama undercover investigation that exposed a disturbing culture of racism, misogyny, and violence at Charing Cross police station. The officers—Sgt Joe McIlvenny, PC Philip Neilson, and PC Martin Borg—were all sacked with immediate effect after expedited misconduct hearings on October 23, 2025, in south London.
The hearings, chaired by Commander Jason Prins, were convened after secret footage captured by a BBC journalist was broadcast, showing the officers making a series of offensive and discriminatory remarks, as well as glorifying the use of inappropriate force. According to the BBC, the officers did not dispute that they made the comments, but each denied the allegations amounted to gross misconduct or that they were racist. Nevertheless, the panel found the conduct of all three officers to be a “disgrace,” with Commander Prins stating, “It was or must have been obvious to him that the comments made were abhorrent.”
PC Philip Neilson, who worked at Charing Cross, was filmed referring to an immigrant who had overstayed his visa, saying, “either put a bullet through his head or deport him.” The footage also captured Neilson making sweeping derogatory comments about people from the Middle East, Algeria, and Somalia, and glorifying the use of force on a restrained detainee. He was also heard suggesting unlawful violence against migrants who broke the law. During the hearing, Neilson did not deny making the comments but argued they only amounted to misconduct, not gross misconduct. He insisted he was not racist, claiming, “I did not discriminate against anyone and footage from my body worn camera would show no matter the ethnicity I did everything with the utmost respect.” Neilson also claimed that the undercover reporter “breached his human rights” and had “egged me on” during the conversations, adding that he had consumed “eight or nine pints of Guinness” at the pub when some of the remarks were made. Despite these explanations, Commander Prins ruled that Neilson’s comments caused “significant harm” to the reputation of the Metropolitan Police and to public confidence in policing, describing his conduct as an “utter disgrace.”
Sgt Joe McIlvenny, a veteran of nearly 20 years in the Metropolitan Police, was secretly recorded being dismissive about a pregnant woman’s allegation of rape and domestic violence against her partner. When a detention officer questioned the decision to release the man on bail, noting he had also been accused of kicking the woman in the stomach, McIlvenny replied, “That’s what she says.” BBC Panorama also captured him making misogynistic comments while at Charing Cross. At the hearing, McIlvenny argued that “what was missing was the context” to his comments and requested a shift to a reduced role in the force. He told the panel that since the programme aired, he had been diagnosed with PTSD and was receiving therapy. Referring to the undercover reporter, McIlvenny said, “He was a very clever man. He has groomed and exploited my vulnerable state and used that to coerce these conversations.” Nonetheless, the panel found that his conduct was “exacerbated as he was a Police Sergeant and in a leadership position.”
PC Martin Borg, also based at Charing Cross, was filmed by the BBC enthusiastically describing how he witnessed another officer stomp on a suspect’s leg in custody. Borg was seen laughing and offering to make a statement claiming the suspect had kicked the sergeant first, though the BBC reported it was unclear from CCTV footage whether that was the case. Borg also made discriminatory remarks about Muslims. James Berry KC, presenting the case for the Metropolitan Police, said the Panorama programme showed Borg “revelled in the use of force on detainees” and made “a number of discriminatory remarks about Muslims.” Borg denied being racist and all allegations of gross misconduct, but admitted to making the comments and argued he had been “groomed over a series of months to get the undercover report.” He faced eight allegations in total, with five found proven as gross misconduct by the panel. Commander Prins described Borg’s conduct as a “disgrace,” stressing, “He alone was responsible for the comments and it was or must have been obvious to him his comments were abhorrent. The comments caused significant harm to the reputation of the Metropolitan Police and public confidence in policing more generally.”
All three officers were dismissed without notice, becoming the first of ten current or former officers to face hearings as part of the Metropolitan Police’s accelerated misconduct proceedings in response to the Panorama footage. The force has since replaced the entire custody team at Charing Cross, made changes to local leadership, and launched a broader review to identify any other areas of concern in detention teams across the Met, according to a statement by Commander Simon Messinger. “We have since replaced the custody team at Charing Cross, made changes to local leadership and wider work continues to identify any other areas of concern in detention teams across the Met,” Messinger said.
The revelations have sent shockwaves through the Metropolitan Police and the wider public. The BBC’s investigation shone a harsh light on a culture that appeared to tolerate, or even encourage, discriminatory attitudes and the misuse of force among some officers. The Met had previously acknowledged that Neilson had “displayed extreme racial, violent and discriminatory views,” as well as a lack of “respect, courtesy and professionalism.” The hearings have prompted renewed calls for greater oversight and reform within the UK’s largest police force, particularly in how it addresses complaints of racism, sexism, and violence within its ranks.
Seven more officers are scheduled to face misconduct hearings in the coming week, as the Metropolitan Police seeks to demonstrate that it is taking decisive action in response to the scandal. The force’s leadership has emphasized its commitment to upholding the highest standards of conduct and restoring public confidence in policing. However, the case has also raised difficult questions about the effectiveness of existing oversight mechanisms and the extent to which problematic attitudes may persist within the force.
For many observers, the Panorama investigation and its aftermath have underscored the need for continued vigilance, robust accountability, and cultural change within policing. As the hearings continue and further details emerge, the Metropolitan Police faces a critical test of its ability to confront wrongdoing and rebuild trust with the communities it serves.
The dismissal of Sgt Joe McIlvenny, PC Philip Neilson, and PC Martin Borg marks a significant moment in the ongoing struggle to ensure integrity and professionalism in British policing. The coming weeks will determine whether the Met’s response is seen as a turning point—or simply the latest in a series of high-profile scandals demanding deeper reform.