Met Police officer KEEPS job despite calling black colleagues ‘cotton pickers’

Korell, who is black herself, reportedly used the term when she encountered Inspector Alistair Phillips while they were both off duty in Guildford in October 2022.

Korell and Phillips had a longer conversation before they touched upon the topic of racism in policing.

Phillips told a panel that Korell asked him if he believed the TSG, where they both worked, was racist, to which he said he did not.

He said Korell replied claiming black TSG officers who do not agree that TSG is racist are just “cotton pickers”.

Commander Jason Prins, the chairman of the panel, said: “The panel found Mr Phillips had no motive to fabricate the allegation and it would have reflected badly on his career had he done so.

“The panel accepts the officer used the word cotton pickers in a derogatory, disrespectful and racist manner.”

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Prins also added that Korell’s words were “meant to be derogatory” but also “out of character”.

Speaking at a hearing in London on Tuesday, he said: “Although these words were discriminatory the panel does not consider the officer to be inherently racist.”

Korell, who is currently studying for a PhD which examines the experience of black police officers denied the allegation.

She told the panel: “It is not a term that you hear often in conversation, it is not part of my vernacular.

“I am aware of its existence but I didn’t say it, it strikes me as odd.”

The panel ruled that Korell had breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour in the force, in respect of discreditable conduct, authority, respect and courtesy, and equality and diversity.

She was subsequently let off with just a final written warning, avoiding dismissal.