Win: Andy George cleared of misconduct

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has cleared Andy George of misconduct.

When the Metropolitan Police promoted the police officer who fatally shot Chris Kaba to inspector, Andy posted on social media that it was “a slap in the face to the disproportionate number of Black officers under investigation for misconduct and being held back in their own careers”.

An anonymous complaint accused Andy of being “political” and “unprofessional”, claiming his comments could “stir up hate”, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland opened an investigation.

A deeply ironic move: launching an investigation for misconduct against a Black officer for raising the fact that Black and Asian police officers are more likely to face investigations for misconduct.

With support from Good Law Project and KRW Law, Andy challenged the investigation as a violation of his right to free expression. The investigation has now finished, and the police have found there was no misconduct.

But clearing Andy of misconduct doesn’t undo the harm.

Andy is still being accused of “stirring division” and each time he speaks out about racism within policing, he is subjected to “management action”.

“This has now happened five times,” Andy said, “and the cumulative effect is chilling – not just on me, but on anyone who dares to raise legitimate concerns about discrimination or inequality.

“It’s becoming harder and harder to keep speaking out, not because the issues are any less urgent, but because the personal cost is increasing each time.”

When institutions investigate people simply for calling out inequality, it sends a signal: keep quiet. And for the more than 6,000 Black and Asian officers in the UK represented by the National Black Police Association, that message lands hard.

According to Katrina McDonnell, campaigns manager at Good Law Project, “this was never just about Andy – it’s about the ability of people working inside systems of power to name what’s wrong without fear”. 

“Even when an investigation finds there has been no misconduct,” McDonnell said, “the damage to trust – and to free speech – is real.”

We may have helped secure a positive outcome for Andy. But the work isn’t done until officers speaking the truth about racism in the force are celebrated for their bravery, not slapped with disciplinary action.