Former UK Cops' WhatsApp Chats 'Rating' Female Colleagues Exposed

Two former UK police officers have been exposed for exchanging inappropriate messages about their female colleagues in a Whatsapp chat. A disciplinary hearing revealed that Inspector Andrew McLullich and PC Paul Jackson of the Merseyside Police engaged in graphic sexual discussions about female officers, 'rated' them, and discussed whom they wanted to have sex with. The objectifying discussions left the targetted officers feeling 'preyed upon', a BBC report quoted. The duo had resigned in 2022 before the misconduct hearing. The details were withheld until after an unrelated criminal trial in which McLullich was a witness.

BBC reported that the trial started after Inspector McLullich and a female officer Stephanie Glynn were caught having sex by the latter's husband, Gavin Harper. Harper, himself a former police officer, allegedly physically assaulted McLullich. He was cleared of assault charges but convicted of stalking his estranged wife.

The Trial

McLullich's phone had been examined by the Professional Standards Department (PSD) during this trial when the derogatory texts with PC Jackson about women officers were exposed. Messages dating between March 2020 and January 2021 revealed the duo rating pictures of female officers, references to women as "it" and "that", and discussing sex acts.

On 9 August 2020, PC Jackson took a photo of an on-duty female constable without her knowledge and sent it to McLullich with the caption "On to you". On another occasion, McLullich messaged Jackson with a Facebook picture of a "new girl on my block", and the pair exchanged lurid comments about her. 

The duo was also caught making derogatory remarks about a 19-year-old new recruit, adding that he was "impressionable too." The pair had discussions about 10 separate female officers. Det Ch Supt Cheryl Rhodes, head of PSD, said, "The behaviour both of these former officers engaged in was inappropriate, highly offensive and totally unacceptable."

Women Officers React

BBC reported that the disciplinary panel spoke to some of the women, one of whom expressed that she was "shocked and upset" by McLullich and Jackson's messages. Many of the targetted officers said that they felt "insecure, vulnerable and preyed upon". Another added that they were "appalled, disgusted and violated."

The two perpetrators acknowledged that they had breached Professional Standards. In a similar case from March 2024, a New York Police Department officer sued the force when a topless photo of her was being circulated within the department. Alisa Bajraktarevic told the Manhattan Supreme Court. that she had sent the photo to her former boyfriend, also a cop.