Former Norfolk PC is barred after admitting pro-Nazi texts

The dismissal of a former police officer for sending pro-Nazi text messages would have been “justifiable” had he not left the force, a misconduct panel has heard.

Connor Rowley joked about rape victims and exchanged racist, antisemitic, and homophobic messages over three years while working as a constable with Norfolk Police, the hearing learned.

An investigation by the force’s anti-corruption team revealed he sent a large volume of messages to his best friend while off duty.

Assistant Chief Constable Nick Davison said Mr Rowley’s conduct was “totally incompatible with being a police officer” and he has been placed on the police barred list.

Connor Rowley joined Norfolk Police in 2021 after serving as a special constable for almost two years.

Setting out the allegations against him, Acting Det Sgt Matthew Cornwall told the panel that Mr Rowley exchanged a “large volume” of messages with his “best friend”, which included racist, antisemitic, homophobic, misogynistic, and pro-Nazi/fascist content.

Mr Rowley had sent images showing the abuse of cats – and joked about violence against women and girls, the hearing at Norfolk Police headquarters in Wymondham was told.

This was a “sustained” departure from the standards and was “deliberate, repeated and persistent,” Acting Det Sgt Cornwall added.

The hearing was told that Mr Rowley had told anti-corruption officers previously that his friend had never “crossed the line between free speech and terrorism”.

Det Ch Insp Christopher Banks also told the panel that Mr Rowley’s actions were “not a one-off” and it did not matter that the messages were sent while the officer was off duty.

“Online and off-duty behaviour should be held to the same standards as on-duty behaviour,” he said.

The text messages contained “pro-rape discussions and pro-rape humour”, Det Ch Insp Banks said, and there were “serious concerns” over whether the officer could act impartially in a case involving rape victims.

In a statement from Mr Rowley read to the panel, Assistant Chief Constable Nick Davison said the former officer had admitted his guilt and had apologised to the force.

But the police chief said the facts were “proven”, adding: “It matters not that the public did not know what he was doing.”

He said Mr Rowley had committed gross misconduct and his dismissal would have “justifiable” if he had not already left.