[Tony Montana]

A police officer who was sacked for a racist outburst at an Asian takeaway has been given her job back.

PC Katie Barratt was dismissed for making racist slurs at the takeaway after a night of drinking at a Northumbria Police Christmas party.

On Monday a panel deemed her sacking to be "unreasonable" and overruled it, allowing Ms Barratt to go back to working as a police officer and also receive £15,000 in back pay.

Northumbria Police had fought to block her return, claiming it could "seriously damage" the police's reputation.

The force's barrister, Steven Reid, said: "Sadly it confirms a stereotype that is unfortunately held in some communities about the police."

Ms Barratt's own barrister, Guy Ladenburg, admitted the slurs she used were an "abomination".

She and her colleagues were in the Spice of Punjab asian takeaway waiting on their meals when Ms Barratt began using the slurs.

She said: "I wish these ********** p**** would hurry up with my pizza."

It was also claimed she had called the takeaway staff "n*****s", something she has never denied.

It was heard how staff had been buying PC Barratt drinks all night at the 2017 Christmas "jolly" but that, since the incident, she hadn't "touched a drop of drink" since, according to her barrister.
Mr Ladenburg said the incident was a one-off for which she should be given a second chance rather than the "nuclear option" of dismissal.

However Steven Reid, on behalf of the police, said that the force felt racism from an officer - whether on or off-duty - was completely unacceptable.

He said: "The appellant didn't go out that night to deliberately racially abuse members of the public. But the fact remains she did."

PC Barratt acknowledged that it was fortunate only her colleagues heard her use of the racial slurs.

The three-person panel downgraded her punishment to a final warning after two hours of deliberations. The panel's chair, Doiran Lovell-Park, said it "roundly condemned" her comments but then wished her luck with resuming her career.

Detective superintendent Sav Patsalos, head of Northumbria Police's professional standards department, said: "We acknowledge the decision of the independent panel and will now take some time to review its findings.

https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2...olice-protest/

[Niamh.]

I know people can do silly things when drunk but I don't think a person would turn into such a gross racist if they weren't already and weren't used to that kind of language.......

She said: "I wish these ********** p**** would hurry up with my pizza."

It was also claimed she had called the takeaway staff "n*****s", something she has never denied.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I know people can do silly things when drunk but I don't think a person would turn into such a gross racist if they weren't already and weren't used to that kind of language.......

She said: "I wish these ********** p**** would hurry up with my pizza."

It was also claimed she had called the takeaway staff "n*****s", something she has never denied.

I used to believe this..that people would only ever use such language when drunk if they used it in everyday life. Then I caught myself when extremely drunk..calling the chinese shop the '*******ies'. only a couple of years back, and it shocked the hell out of me. I used to say it semi regularly until I was about 14..as did most people where I lived tbh, but this was like 15 years after that

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I used to believe this..that people would only ever use such language when drunk if they used it in everyday life. Then I caught myself when extremely drunk..calling the chinese shop the '*******ies'. only a couple of years back, and it shocked the hell out of me. I used to say it semi regularly until I was about 14..as did most people where I lived tbh, but this was like 15 years after that

I hope you are de-modded with immediate effect tbh.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

I hope you are de-modded with immediate effect tbh.

So do I

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I used to believe this..that people would only ever use such language when drunk if they used it in everyday life. Then I caught myself when extremely drunk..calling the chinese shop the '*******ies'. only a couple of years back, and it shocked the hell out of me. I used to say it semi regularly until I was about 14..as did most people where I lived tbh, but this was like 15 years after that

I mean to be fair it does seem like this was quite a bit beyond that, terms like "the ch***ies" for a Chinese take-away or even "The P*** Shop" were common when I was at school and we had no idea it was wrong, so I can see someone VERY drunk sort of having a "memory slip" and using an old term from their childhood that they'd never use as an adult.

However you didn't stand IN the Chinese take away and shout "This *******in' ch***y better hurry up with my special fried rice!"

It's next level and being drunk is no excuse .

[bots]

One has to consider the background where police have been accused of institutional racism. Ordinary people are not expected or required to be impartial and even handed, the police are. That alone should have seen her exit.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

One has to consider the background where police have been accused of institutional racism. Ordinary people are not expected or required to be impartial and even handed, the police are. That alone should have seen her exit.

Yes I am very surprised, she must be super good at her job, or have connections at a high level

[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I mean to be fair it does seem like this was quite a bit beyond that, terms like "the ch***ies" for a Chinese take-away or even "The P*** Shop" were common when I was at school and we had no idea it was wrong, so I can see someone VERY drunk sort of having a "memory slip" and using an old term from their childhood that they'd never use as an adult.

However you didn't stand IN the Chinese take away and shout "This *******in' ch***y better hurry up with my special fried rice!"

It's next level and being drunk is no excuse .

To be fair,I used to know a lass who would go in to the Chinese and say “can i have a bag ‘o’ chinky chips please” People still say ‘I’m off for a chinky’ now.

On the topic.
I think i’d let her off with the one incident while pissed.
If she did it again though.Out.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Northern Monkey

To be fair,I used to know a lass who would go in to the Chinese and say “can i have a bag ‘o’ chinky chips please” People still say ‘I’m off for a chinky’ now.

On the topic.
I think i’d let her off with the one incident while pissed.
If she did it again though.Out.

No, this wasn't a slip of the tongue. It was a tirade and she threw the N-word at people too. She's a racist and she shouldn't be on the force.

Alcohol doesn't turn people racist, it only unleashes inhibitions.

[Tom4784]

A ridiculous ruling.

If a police officer or a person in authority is shown to be racist of bigoted then they cannot continue to do that role since they won't be able to be impartial in their job, they will always have biases that could lead to serious consequences for people who rely on them.

This panel should be investigated for this ruling.

[GoldHeart]

Why was she given a job back!!! what a great message that sends out! , things are just getting worse .

[Livia]

Maybe she was given her job back because she was a good copper... and the words of a drunkard never really hurt anyone.

[Twosugars]

Originally Posted by Livia

Maybe she was given her job back because she was a good copper... and the words of a drunkard never really hurt anyone.

how can you be a good copper if you hold in contempt some sections of the community you serve?
what if she shouted about ****ing Jews? would that make you reconsider your opinion of her?

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Livia

Maybe she was given her job back because she was a good copper... and the words of a drunkard never really hurt anyone.

Yeah it's perfectly normal for normally not racist people to suddenly go round calling people n*****s and p***s when drunk, I'm sure she's normally a very good unracist copper ........

[Marsh.]

Ridiculous. Poor little racist.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Good news that she got her job back, in general the Police need all the support we can give them. A good ruling.

[Marsh.]

Yeah, racists need our support. Good one.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Yeah, racists need our support. Good one.

no but sacking her was wrong and overturned

a good ruling and common sense - we dont need racism hysteria anymore than it is at the moment

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

no but sacking her was wrong and overturned

a good ruling and common sense - we dont need racism hysteria anymore than it is at the moment

So let's accept racism. Good one.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

So let's accept racism. Good one.

i think we all accept racism from all colours of the rainbow exists and that people act like dicks when wasted, yes

but thankfully we can be sensible about it and not hysterical

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

i think we all accept racism from all colours of the rainbow exists and that people act like dicks when wasted, yes

but thankfully we can be sensible about it and not hysterical

Not having abusive racists in the police force is hysteria?

If only "I was pissed sir" was a valid excuse for being a bigot.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

no but sacking her was wrong and overturned

Overturned yes it seems.

Wrong? Well, as much as I just admitted using derogatory a term not too long ago, this appears to be quite a bit worse than that. And tbh, police officers shuld be held to a higher standard than us plebs I think, as should the likes of teachers and that.

[Crimson Dynamo]

bloody hell i thought you were cal

[arista]

Amazing she got her Job Back