FIVE serving West Yorkshire Police officers have been sacked and three former colleagues told they would have been dismissed over “routine misogyny” and “casual racism” expressed in a WhatsApp group.

A disciplinary panel found them guilty of gross misconduct today over “derogatory, offensive and discriminatory” messages posted in the group, where they also shared photographs of “death scenes,” car crashes, missing people and detainees.

The hearing was told the group used by some West Yorkshire Police officers based in Pudsey, near Leeds, was characterised by “mean-spirited and bullying remarks about colleagues and members of the public.”