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A former 999 call-handler, Izzy Vine, found herself in a disturbing situation when a colleague she reported for offensive comments was reinstated after being initially sacked. Vine, who is currently suing the Met Police for constructive dismissal, was shocked by the reinstatement of the call-handler, who had made derogatory remarks including calling a rape victim a “slut.” Despite being dismissed for gross misconduct in November 2023, the colleague successfully appealed the decision and got his job back.
Vine criticized the Met Police for not living up to its promise of listening to whistleblowers, as she felt let down by the outcome of the appeal process. The call-handler’s offensive remarks were deemed “entirely unacceptable” by the Met, but they also mentioned that the decision to reinstate him was thoroughly reviewed. Vine, from Wimbledon in south-west London, wrote an open letter to Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, expressing her disappointment in the handling of the situation and calling for genuine change within the force.
The troubling incident occurred during a shift in April 2023 when Vine’s colleague made several offensive remarks while interacting with victims. Vine reported the behavior the next day, ultimately leading to the call-handler’s sacking for gross misconduct. However, Vine was baffled when she later learned that he had won an appeal and would receive a written warning instead. This decision left Vine feeling shocked, confused, and questioning the integrity of the disciplinary process within the force.
The incident and its aftermath had a profound impact on Vine, causing her to feel disillusioned with the Met Police and ultimately resign from her position in December. Seeking damages for constructive dismissal, sexual harassment, whistleblowing detriment, and a failure to make reasonable adjustments, Vine is determined to hold the force accountable for failing to address toxic behavior effectively. Despite the internal measures taken to encourage whistleblowers and address unacceptable conduct, Vine’s experience highlights gaps in the system that need urgent attention
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