A UK police officer’s attempt to claim “peer pressure” made him send homophobic, transphobic, and racist messages didn’t quite save his career—because apparently, the thin blue line doesn’t tolerate every kind of bad behavior.
PC Gareth Horton was shown the door after an internal investigation uncovered messages he sent while serving in the Merseyside Police force. The exchanges, which he shared with another officer between March and July 2023, were filled with offensive comments about the LGBTQ+ community, women, and racial minorities. When confronted, Horton went for the old I-was-just-trying-to-fit-in excuse, insisting he was “so remorseful” and that the messages didn’t reflect his true character.
“This does not represent my true character,” he pleaded. “It’s ignorance and stupidity on my behalf.”
Unfortunately for Horton, his “boys-will-be-boys” defense didn’t hold up at his misconduct hearing. Chairman Ian Arundale pointed out that this wasn’t just a one-off lapse in judgment but a clear “pattern of behavior” targeting legally protected groups. The result? A firm dismissal and a permanent ban from policing.
The investigation initially targeted another officer but turned up Horton’s digital footprint, which included homophobic slurs about TV presenter Phillip Schofield and a transphobic advertisement. Not only did Horton not object—he played along, responding with laughing emojis and messages laced with homophobic and racist overtones.
Police barrister Katherine Hampshire minced no words about what this meant for the force’s reputation. “The public would be rightly horrified had they seen these messages,” she said. “You behaved in a manner that would discredit the police service and undermine public confidence.”
His lawyer, Susan Ferrier, tried to soften the blow, arguing that Horton was being too honest and had done everything he could to make things right. She even claimed that the accelerated misconduct process was “irregular” and suggested a written warning would have sufficed. But when your client openly admits to discrimination while in uniform, a slap on the wrist just won’t cut it.
This incident is yet another stain on UK policing’s already tarnished record with the LGBTQ+ community. From officers making homophobic jokes in WhatsApp groups to systemic discrimination, the message is clear: reform is long overdue. While Horton’s firing might seem like progress, it raises a bigger question—how many other officers with similar attitudes are still on the force?
For LGBTQ+ Brits, trust in the police remains fragile. And cases like this prove that some officers still see bigotry as part of the job description.