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A Black police constable found guilty of gross misconduct by a Met Police panel is set to appeal the ruling, with her supporters claiming a series of investigations against her were a “disproportionate” and targeted misuse of the force’s misconduct system.
PC Mia Korell, who works in the force’s transport division, was alleged to have referred to black Territorial Support Group (TSG) officers who did not agree with her opinion that the TSG was a racist unit, by allegedly saying “they’re just cotton pickers” on 7 October 2022 – in other words, supposedly comparing them to slaves.
The panel found, in an official report released this Wednesday, that the Inspector’s testimony was credible, arguing he had no motive to fabricate the allegation and his evidence was internally consistent.
PC Korell strongly denied using the term “cotton pickers” in the conversation in Guidlford (West Surrey) in 2022. But the panel found the allegation proven, describing the phrase as “unusual and memorable”.
They concluded that while the comment was out of character and Korell wasn’t “inherently racist”, the words supposedly used were deliberately used to be derogatory.
PC Korell was heavily pregnant at the time, and had — the panel noted — done “valuable work” on diversity and inclusion in the Metropolitan Police.
She was undertaking a PhD at Surrey University, studying the experience of black police officers in the Metropolitan Police Service.
But in her own evidence to the hearing, PC Korell claimed that the Inspector and complainant was a friend of her alleged former abuser, a senior serving officer in Westminster.
The panel acknowledged that the officer who complained was “friendly” to PC Korell’s alleged former abuser. There was no recording and no other witnesses to the incident and it was not reported until three weeks later, on 1 November.
The panel also recognised Korell’s good character before and after the incident, but found the claim was ‘proven’ and gave her a final written warning for gross misconduct, lasting for five years.
PC Korell’s alleged former abuser, known as ‘Mr A’, is alleged to have remained on frontline policing duties, including at a protest against the XL Bully Ban, while under criminal investigation for alleged violence against women offences.
The domestic abuse case against Mr A, starting in June 2023, was initially handled internally before being referred to the Crown Prosecution Service following a victim’s right to review process, Byline Times understands.
String of Investigations
Byline Times understands that Korell plans to appeal the ruling. It is latest of three separate investigations into the officer in the space of two years — with one investigation dropped just a week before the hearing was due to take place, and another failing to prove she was the perpetrator of domestic abuse against her older, more senior male police officer partner at the time.
The panel for that latter hearing instead found there was evidence of the reverse — that she was a potential victim of domestic abuse by her then-partner, who can only be referred to as Mr A for legal reasons.
In another case against her new partner, also a serving officer, on 23 June 2023, five male officers are alleged to have searched PC Korell’s home while she was alone with her newborn baby, attempting to find her partner’s phone.
The latter was already in police custody. PC Korell is understood to have suffered Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder following the raid.
Concerns have long been raised by police reform campaigners about the “disproportionate” targeting of black officers in misconduct proceedings within the Met.
The panel found the complainant had “no motive to fabricate the allegation”.
Backlash, and the Met Line
Baroness Casey’s landmark 2023 report into racism and sexism in the Met Police found that black and ethnic minority officers were being disproportionately hit by the misconduct process.
She wrote: “There is racial disparity throughout the Met’s misconduct system. Despite improvement, it was still the case in 2021-22 that Black officers and staff were 81% more likely than White officers to have misconduct allegations brought against them, while Asian officers were 55% more likely.
“Black and Asian officers were also more likely to have an allegation substantiated than White officers. This is a long-standing issue and is clear evidence of systemic bias.”
PC Korell’s supporters fear this ruling is the latest example.
Zoë Garbett, Green Party Member of the London Assembly, told Byline Times PC Korell’s experiences appeared “absolutely appalling”. For example, the officer is understood to have been required to work alongside colleagues of her ex-partner, Mr A, in the force’s ‘Taskforce HQ’ — which contains the Professional Standards Unit — while he was under criminal investigation for alleged abuse against her.
This demand was eventually overturned following a complaint to senior Met Police figures.
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Garbett added: “That a previous investigation found there was evidence she was a victim of abuse should have given the Met pause before launching further action against her and it seems no consideration was given to the health implications of putting a pregnant woman, and then the mother of a new-born, through endless stressful [misconduct] processes and appearances.”
The London Assembly Member also said that abusers “can attempt to use [misconduct or judicial] systems to further harm their victims”.
“While this isn’t alleged here, the fact that instruments of state, and internal processes within the Met can be used in this way is a failing.”
And the Green Party AM noted that the Met Police “promised to address the rampant misogyny we’ve seen in its ranks, to protect its female officers and the public”.
“This is another deeply worrying sign that progress hasn’t been made.”
A spokesperson for the Met Police refused to answer specific questions about the case, and instead said the hearing was “the appropriate place for the evidence to be tested.”
“Other questions relate to the personal circumstances either of PC Korell [or] of other officers. It would be inappropriate for us to provide that detail.”
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Josiah Mortimer also writes the On the Ground column, exclusive to the print edition of Byline Times.
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