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South African officer in 'toxic' organised crime unit became so caught up in the racist culture that he failed stand up when his best friend was racially abused, tribunal hears

A South African officer in a 'toxic' specialist police unit became so caught up in the racist culture that he failed to say anything when his best friend was racially abused, a disciplinary hearing was told today.

PC Craig Bannerman was said to be extremely close to the only black officer in the squad, Detective Constable Solomon Koranteng, who was the target of numerous offensive comments.

But when a colleague began singing the Bob Marley song Buffalo Soldier at DC Koranteng and telling him he had been flown from Africa in a crate, PC Bannerman said nothing.

Six officers at Hampshire Constabulary's Serious Organised Crime Unit  were all found guilty of gross misconduct after they were recorded using 'racist, sexist and homophobic' language.

The officers were accused of either making 'abhorrent' comments, or not challenging others when those remarks were made. 

Bugging devices placed in the unit's offices between March and April 2018 recorded them calling women 'w****s' and 's***s', comparing black officers to dogs and saying Albanians should be killed with 'nerve agent', a disciplinary hearing was previously told.   

The officers accused of gross misconduct were Detective Inspector Timothy Ireson, Detective Sergeant Oliver Lage, Detective Sergeant Gregory Willcox, trainee Detective Constable Andrew Ferguson, PC James Oldfield, and PC Bannerman.

Yesterday, the men were told that they should be dismissed immediately and there was no place for them in the police force.

Det Insp Timothy Ireson (pictured) said he should have been aware of an 'escalation in behaviour' among his officers as they made repeated 'stomach turning' remarks

Det Insp Timothy Ireson said he should have been aware of an 'escalation in behaviour' among his officers as they made repeated 'stomach turning' remarks

Six officers at Hampshire Constabulary's Serious Organised Crime Unit were all found guilty of gross misconduct after they were recorded using 'racist, sexist and homophobic' language

Six officers at Hampshire Constabulary's Serious Organised Crime Unit were all found guilty of gross misconduct after they were recorded using 'racist, sexist and homophobic' language 

The detectives in charge of the unit claimed they allowed a 'relaxed' culture to develop because they were trying to build a 'cohesive' team.

Today, Colin Banham, defending Bannerman, who has since left Hampshire Constabulary, said: 'DC and Mr were, and still are best friends.

' they were known as the team that got results. They were the two who were sent in because they were the ones who served the public breaking down organised crime groups.'

Mr Banham said the two men had been nicknamed 'The Africans' due to their shared African heritage and because other officers in the team joked they were 'inseparable'.

PC Bannerman previously told investigators he and Ghanaian DC Koranteng were known to be good friends and claimed one barrister even jokingly referred to them as 'ebony and ivory'.

However, he was present when one of the most 'abhorrent' incidents heard on the covert recording took place in which another officer sang Buffalo Soldier to DC Koranteng before telling him he had been flown 'from Africa in a crate' and taken to London Zoo.

Mr Banham continued: 'PC Bannerman' failure to challenge where clearly there is a significant and serious insult and racism against someone who is your best friend and colleague that the culture must have been so pervasive and impacting that Mr Bannerman did not react.

'I would submit that when looking at whether Dc Koranteng was targeted or whether Mr Bannerman acquiesced to the targeting that it's quite clear the culture in the office must have had an effect on his behaviour. 

Six officers from Hampshire Constabulary's Serious Organised Crime Unit office, who were previously all found guilty of gross misconduct, were told at a disciplinary hearing that 'there was no place for them' in the police force. Pictured: Hampshire Police HQ

Six officers from Hampshire Constabulary's Serious Organised Crime Unit office, who were previously all found guilty of gross misconduct, were told at a disciplinary hearing that 'there was no place for them' in the police force. Pictured: Hampshire Police HQ

'This is because it runs contrary to everything we know about their relationship.'

He added: 'PC was in fact sensitive to issues of diversity but was in a culture that was allowed to develop by admitted failures in line management.

'During the stark investigation where his have been played back he has been appalled by some of his behaviour.'

He said that PC Bannerman had 'been fighting his whole life against apartheid and unfairness ' in his native country and the investigation had 'significantly' affected his mental health.

Previously the hearing was told that on the recording women were referred to as 's***s', 'sugar t***' and 'sweet t***', while an officer's partner was described as 'an absolute whore'.

Officers also sent 'explicit' fake pornographic images of Prince Harry and Kate Middleton to the work's WhatsApp group.

DI Ireson has retired and PC Bannerman has resigned since the covert recordings were made at the force's serious organised crime unit.

The panel was made up of lawyer John Bassett, a male police superintendent and a female lawyer.

A final decision on the sanctions is expected to be made on Friday.

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