Cambridge Dictionary clearly describes the term as ‘never doing anything wrong.’
A senior Scotland Yard office is facing losing his job after using the term ‘whiter than white’ in a briefing with colleagues being faultless in their inquiries.
The term, which the officer used means ‘never doing anything wrong, ‘ and the detective reportedly used it to mean officers’ actions should be beyond reproach.
The detective is now under investigation for racism, even though Cambridge Dictionary clearly describes the term as ‘never doing anything wrong.’
According to the DM: But a complaint was made over apparent racial connotations of the phrase and investigation has now been launched.
Colleagues are reportedly upset that the man’s career has been hit and he faces a probe lasting up to a year for uttering a phrase which is widely used around the country without controversy.
Another Met officer told The Evening Standard:
‘It may have been a poor use of language but this is not what the misconduct process is for. This is not corruption, this is not serious wrongdoing.’
The paper reported that other officers are being investigated over the use of seemingly innocuous phrases including ‘pale, stale and male’ and ‘a good egg’.
It is understood the detective in the Met Police case has been put on restricted duties after being served misconduct notice in June.
He will be interviewed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) at a later date.
A spokesman for the Independent Office for Police Conduct said: ‘I can confirm that as part of Operation Embley into allegations of serious corruption and malpractice within the Directorate of Professional Standards a notice of investigation has been served on an officer informing them we are investigating the alleged use of language deliberately intended to offend and that had racist undertones.
‘A notice is issued to inform an officer at the earliest opportunity following an allegation and to safeguard their interests. It in no way indicates that misconduct proceedings will take place.’