Katie Price has said she felt ‘heartbroken’ and ‘betrayed’ after Met police officers allegedly sent ‘derogatory’ images of her disabled son Harvey on WhatsApp.
The former glamor model, 44, said she felt “sick” after learning eight police officers allegedly sent “inappropriate and derogatory” images of Harvey in a group chat.
Harvey, 20, suffers from autism and Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare genetic condition that causes a wide range of physical symptoms, learning difficulties and behavioral problems.
He was 14 years old at the time of the messages, which were allegedly sent between 2016 and 2018 by eight police officers and allegedly included memes and videos.
Ahead of a misconduct hearing on the allegations that began Monday, Katie said she felt “betrayed” by the force and called for a criminal investigation into the alleged messages.
‘Betrayed’: Katie Price has said she felt ‘heartbroken’ and ‘betrayed’ after Met Police officers allegedly sent ‘derogatory’ images of her disabled son Harvey on WhatsApp
Upsetting: The former glamor model, 44, said she felt ‘sick’ after learning eight police officers allegedly sent ‘inappropriate and derogatory’ images of Harvey in a group chat
She said Mirror: ‘These are the people who are supposed to protect us, people we are supposed to trust.
“It’s pure betrayal, I was in shock at first, then I felt sick, heartbroken and angry.”
She added: “It’s not enough for these people to simply lose their jobs if convicted, if this happened to a vulnerable adult like Harvey it will happen to others.”
Katie went on to say that while she’s thankful Harvey isn’t aware of what happened, her youngest children Princess, 15, and Junior, 17, have been “crying” about it.
She shares Junior and Princess with ex-husband Peter Andre, while also being a mother to Jett, nine, and Bunny, eight, from her relationship with Kieran Hayler. She shares Harvey with Dwight Yorke.
According to details from the hearing, the officers allegedly involved are PS Luke Thomas, PC Glynn Rees, former APS Luke Allen, former PC Lee South, former PC Carlo Francisco, former PC Kelsey Buchan, former PC Darren Jenner and another listed as official. b.
MailOnline has contacted the Metropolitan Police for further comment.
Scotland Yard has been forced to apologize to Katie for the alleged messages, and she shared a image of a letter detailing the alleged misconduct on Instagram on Friday.
Allegations: Harvey was 14 years old at the time of the messages, which were allegedly sent between 2016 and 2018 by eight police officers and allegedly included memes and videos.
Angry: Scotland Yard was forced to apologize to Katie for the alleged messages, and she shared an image of a letter detailing the alleged misconduct on Instagram on Friday.
The letter, written by an investigator, details the allegations and states that the officers involved will be subject to a serious misconduct hearing.
Alongside the image of the letter, Katie wrote: “I feel I need to share this hand-delivered letter from the Metropolitan Police.
“It’s disgusting that the cops here felt the need to laugh and use disgusting content about Harvey while creating an app group (sic).
‘I would attend this court day, but I’m out. They need to be named shamed and exposed.
In the letter, addressed to Katie and dated 26 January, an investigator from the Metropolitan Police Professional Standards Department’s Discrimination Investigation Unit informed her that “a number of Metropolitan Police officers are alleged to have violated the Standards of Professional Conduct”. her in regards to Discreditable Conduct for being part of a WhatsApp chat group that has posted inappropriate and derogatory images of her son, Harvey Price.’
It is alleged that the WhatsApp messaging group was used to “post discriminatory content that attacks protected characteristics of race, religion or belief, disability, sexual orientation, and gender, in the form of messages, memes, and videos.”
Eight officers are concerned at the upcoming hearing for serious misconduct. The Met confirmed that the hearing will begin in West Brompton on February 20 and is scheduled to last four days.
In 2021, 13 Metropolitan Police officers from two units were investigated for allegedly sharing vile jokes about Harvey.
The officers, based in Bexleyheath and Hackney, faced allegations that they shared “inappropriate material” on a WhatsApp group and were assigned to restricted duties at the time while standards inspectors carried out investigations.
A source at the time said the officers were taken to a meeting with higher command once the messages surfaced in March 2018.
Son: Harvey, 20, suffers from autism and Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare genetic condition that causes a wide range of physical symptoms, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
“They’ve been putting bad jokes in there, pictures of black criminals, but some of the worst things were taking out the Harvey Price mickey,” they said.
I have been told that there are many messages about him. These are the people who are supposed to take care of us and are supposed to be in these communities.’
Ms Price has previously campaigned for stricter laws on trolling and online abuse after Harvey was attacked.
In 2018, he urged Select Committee on Petitions MPs to introduce a ‘Harvey Law’ to make online trolling a crime after describing how trolls hurled racist abuse at Harvey online and even created videos of him.
She said she went to the police about the trolling, but said they were left “embarrassed” and unable to pursue the cases because there was no criminal offense in place.
Speaking of her son, Ms Price said: “They make fun of him because of his colour, his size, I just think they think he’s an easy target to pick on.”
But I am his voice. I’m here and I’m going to protect you.’
She said the new law would “stop the killing and abuse” and told lawmakers that tougher action should be “obvious.”
She said: ‘It’s a joke, I did everything I could, I went to the police, I reported people, but nothing was done. It is still being done and it is getting worse and worse.
She asked the MPs: ‘Why is it okay to make fun of disabled people? …the police couldn’t do anything. I’ve tried shutting people down, but it’s getting worse. It’s getting worse all the time.
“And it’s not just Harvey that I’m protecting, I’ve talked to other people about it, it’s so harmful to people.”
‘I know you (MPs on the Petitions Select Committee) agree with me on…we just have to get the government to do something about it.’
Hearing: The Met confirmed that the officers involved will be subject to a hearing for serious misconduct at a facility in West Brompton, London.
In 2021, Mrs. Price launched a new initiative called Track A Troll that would make it a legal requirement to provide a verified ID for anyone opening a social media account.
According to the Met, the eight officers will have to answer to allegations that their conduct amounted to breaches of the rules of professional conduct.
These are related to dishonorable conduct, authority, respect and courtesy, challenging and denouncing improper conduct, equality and diversity, and duties and responsibilities.
The Met told MailOnline it was unable to comment due to an upcoming hearing.
MailOnline contacted a representative for Katie Price for comment at the time.