A Met Police officer who told a Black colleague they look like a burglar and joked about them having a 'shank', then said 'it's because you're coloured lovey' when they were challenged over their racism, has been sacked. DC Samantha Landy made the comments to PC Cordelle Sailsman between September 2021 and July 2022, at social events in front of other colleagues, a five-day tribunal heard.
At a barbecue in September 2021, DC Landy told PC Sailsman words to the effect of, ‘Oh be quick, they might think you’re the burglar’ when he went into the house to use the toilet; and at a pub in October 2021, DC Landy said to PC Sailsman words to the effect of ‘they look like trouble, Cordy have you got your shank’ when two Black males walked in, the misconduct panel heard.
At a Christmas party in 2021, PC Sailsman challenged DC Landy over her 'racial comments' and another reference to his 'shank', so she said 'it's because you're coloured lovey', the tribunal was told. And in July 2022, acting as sergeant on a police operation, DC Landy then told PC Sailsman ‘You should have been there, Cordy we needed you because they was all calling us white pigs'.
PC Sailsman said he felt 'shocked and confused' after the first comment, which he realised was a reference to him being the only Black man at the BBQ. Recalling the second comment at the pub, PC Sailsman said he felt similarly 'angry, upset, and puzzled'. On DC Landy's 'coloured' comment, PC Sailsman said he felt 'targeted'.
Under questioning, DC Landy denied using the terms 'coloured' or 'your shank' and said she was 'disgusted and outraged by what she termed to be malicious allegations'. The officer admitted the fourth allegation, around telling PC Sailsman they needed him because they were being abused, but said it was not in the context being presented.
In her defence, DC Landy claimed she had been racially abused after moving from Ireland to England as a child. The officer also denied having any racist undertones, and denied ever having apologised to PC Sailsman for her comments. DC Landy also admitted drinking during each incident, and being especially drunk at the BBQ, but denied making the comments.
The panel noted PC Sailsman's candour in his evidence, including his admission that he called a female colleague a 'b**ch', which, along with the consistency of his accounts, was cited as a reason the panel found him a reliable and credible witness. Though the panel found DC Landy could have been supported better in her new role, they preferred PC Sailsman's evidence.
Commenting on the evidence of other serving Met Police officers who gave evidence to the tribunal, the panel wrote: "The Panel was concerned that the Team from leadership down had very little understanding of race and diversity issues and as a result were unable to identify racist comments. It was particularly concerning that even two years after the incidents, some members of the team still did not recognise the gravity of the comments made and the impact they had on PC Sailsman."
Deciding to sack DC Landy without notice, the panel wrote: "The conduct was repeated and without regard to the feelings of PC Sailsman. The comments were racial, discriminatory, derogatory and offensive and would cause serious concerns to the public confidence and perception of the MPS. "
'Racism is still very real'
Posting on LinkedIn after the ruling was published, former PC Sailsman wrote: "They thought I’d stay silent. I made sure they heard me. Four years ago, I started going through something no one should have to face. Two years of racial abuse while just trying to do my job, followed by two more years of being silenced.
"This year, the truth finally came out. And justice showed up. I’m not sharing this for sympathy. I’m sharing it because racism is still very real, even in the places that claim to stand for fairness and integrity. It happens to people who work hard, stay professional, and do everything by the book. It happened to me.
"I stayed quiet for a long time, but not anymore. If you’re going through something, don’t let them make you feel like you’re imagining it. You’re not. Racism doesn’t always wear a hood. Sometimes it wears a uniform."
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