Metropolitan Police Detective Sergeant Dismissed Following Antisemitic Social Media Activity
A detective sergeant serving with the Metropolitan Police has been removed from her position after a misconduct panel found she had posted antisemitic and overtly political content on social media concerning the conflict in Gaza. The panel determined that her actions demonstrated a clear lack of impartiality during a period of heightened public sensitivity.
Content Deemed Antisemitic Under International Definition
The officer, Rebecca Collens, who served within the Road and Transport Policing Command, shared a post on her private Instagram account that drew direct parallels between conditions in Palestine and Nazi Germany. This included an image labelled "Palestine 2024" alongside a photograph of victims from what appeared to be a concentration camp, labelled "Germany 1945". The caption read: "The world said never again and here we are again 79 years later."
Accompanying this, she added a comment stating: "A classic case of the abused becomes the abuser… no?" The misconduct panel noted that Ms Collens accepted the term "abused" referred to Jewish people, not the State of Israel, which did not exist in 1945. Consequently, the panel ruled this post fell within the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, specifically by comparing contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
Series of Political Posts on Gaza Conflict
The panel heard that Ms Collens shared multiple posts deemed overtly political and one-sided regarding the Gaza conflict following the events of 7 October 2023. These included:
- A post describing the situation as "genocide" and arguing there was no parity of power, highlighting Israel's military capabilities and backing.
- A shared post accusing Israel of bombing civilian airports in Syria and using white phosphorus in Lebanon and Gaza, while criticising Western media portrayal.
- A graphic comparing the number of children killed per day in Auschwitz with figures from Gaza.
- Comments criticising potential restrictions on a ceasefire march, where she wrote: "god forbid people protesting against war/war crimes/genocide for a ceasefire on a day where we remember the devastation of every day during a world war… make it make sense!"
These posts were shared on a private Instagram account with over 100 followers and were reported anonymously to the Met's Right Line whistleblowing service in May 2024.
Officer's Defence and Panel's Conclusion
Ms Collens stated her intention was to highlight the "suffering and devastation in Gaza" and expressed feelings of "guilt, helplessness, heartbreak and pain". She told the panel she had no aim to "hurt anyone or be disrespectful of the Jewish faith" and was "horrified about being called antisemitic; mortified and heartbroken".
However, the panel concluded that, on the balance of probabilities, the post comparing Israeli policy to the Nazis was antisemitic, regardless of her intent or awareness at the time. They found her conduct undermined public confidence and demonstrated a failure to maintain the impartiality expected of a police officer.
Senior Officer Condemns Unacceptable Behaviour
Detective Chief Superintendent Donna Smith commented: "DS Collens' conduct was wholly unacceptable and I find it inconceivable that she did not think these posts could be seen as offensive or overtly political. There is no room in the organisation for anyone who thinks this type of behaviour is appropriate. We are building a culture where anyone can feel welcome in the Met and those who undermine this are not suitable to serve."
This case underscores the strict standards imposed on police officers regarding social media use and the serious consequences of posting content that breaches professional conduct guidelines, particularly on sensitive international issues.
