Byline Times is an independent, reader-funded investigative newspaper, outside of the system of the established press, reporting on ‘what the papers don’t say’ – without fear or favour.
To support its work, subscribe to the monthly Byline Times print edition, packed with exclusive investigations, news, and analysis.
The Metropolitan Police has apologised and reported one of its officers to professional standards after photographs were posted on the force’s social media of Black men being stopped and searched with their identity disguised with a racially-charged emoji.
The photos, which were posted on X, formerly Twitter, showed officers speaking to two men whose faces had been covered with an ace of spades – a well-known racial epithet.
Following complaints from social media users – the post, which was viewed thousands of times – was removed, and an apology issued for the “inappropriate” emoji.
National Black Police Association President Andy George told Byline Times that he was “absolutely shocked that in 2024 someone from within the Metropolitan Police Service feels emboldened to use an ace of spades to cover a Black person’s face”.

He continued: “My own father used to get an ace of spades pinned to his room door when he was in the Army back in the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s so its use as a racial slur has been long standing.”
George urged the Met to “stop their constant denial of how bad racism is within the service and actually put measures in place to finally deal with it”.
The post by MPS Enfield on 11 July was intended to promote a traffic operation in Edmonton, North London, in association with the Met’s Roads and Transport Division.
It read: “You may have noticed a significant police presence around [Edmonton Green] & [Upper Edmonton].
Local Safer Neighbourhood Officers were running a traffic operation alongside our [Met’s Roads and Transport Division] colleagues.”
X users reacted with anger to the “outrageous” emoji used to disguise the identity of the men.
Vinny Tomlinson wrote: “A cynic would suggest this was deliberate. In any case it is…outrageous. If you do not know the significance of this you shouldn’t be working [in] front of house [social media].”
Nusrit Mehtab added: “So much for the @Mets Diversity and Equality training. Keep trying to gaslight communities[,] we see you, we see how much change you’ve made.”
The post was taken down the following day, 12 July, and an apology was issued on X, saying: “We apologise for several posts which appeared on this account last night. An inappropriate emoji was used and we know this has caused offence. We are speaking to the officer involved and professional standards colleagues.”
Chief Inspector Rob Gibbs, who is responsible for neighbourhood policing in Enfield, told Byline Times: “We apologise for a post which appeared on Enfield social media accounts on Thursday evening.
“An inappropriate emoji was used and we know this has caused offence.
“We are working hard to raise standards and build trust with our communities.
“We understand this has not been to the standard that you or we expect.”
Gibbs said the force is speaking to the officer involved and added that the matter has also been referred to professional standards “to advise on next steps”.
ENJOYING THIS ARTICLE? HELP US TO PRODUCE MORE
Receive the monthly Byline Times newspaper and help to support fearless, independent journalism that breaks stories, shapes the agenda and holds power to account.
We’re not funded by a billionaire oligarch or an offshore hedge-fund. We rely on our readers to fund our journalism. If you like what we do, please subscribe.