Andy George called out police racism – so the police investigated him

When Andy George spoke out about the fact that Black and Asian police officers are more likely to face investigations for misconduct, the police hit him with a misconduct investigation of his own.

In October 2024, the officer who shot Chris Kaba in the head was cleared of murder. Less than a month later, the Metropolitan Police promoted him to inspector.

As president of the National Black Police Association, it’s part of Andy’s role to talk about racism in the police. But when he posted on social media that this promotion represented “a slap in the face to the disproportionate number of Black officers under investigation for misconduct and being held back in their own careers”, he found himself at the centre of a misconduct investigation himself.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland, where Andy has served under its different guises since 1999, is investigating him for an alleged breach of its code of ethics. Its investigation follows an anonymous complaint that accused Andy of being “political” and “unprofessional,” and even claimed his comments could “stir up hate, division, and acrimony among officers.”

When the police launch an investigation for misconduct into a leader who raises problems with misconduct investigations, it’s Kafkaesque.

So Good Law Project is working with KRW Law to support Andy as he pushes for transparency around the complaint, a fair and proportionate process, and protection of his right to free expression under Article 10 of the Human Rights Act.

For Andy, the launch of misconduct proceedings over a post that “raised legitimate concern about a promotion that appeared to bypass established policy” has raised questions for serving police officers up and down the UK.

“Facing misconduct proceedings for that tweet sends a dangerous message,” Andy said. “That speaking up, especially as an officer of colour, carries personal risk. This has had a chilling effect not just on me, but on our 6,000 National Black Police Association members who already struggle to trust a system that too often silences them. Freedom of speech cannot be a privilege for the powerful – it must be a right for all.”

According to Katrina McDonnell, campaigns manager at Good Law Project, “everyone has the right to challenge injustice – especially from inside systems of power”.

“If we want real progress,” McDonnell said, “we must protect those who speak out, not single them out.”