The commander who oversaw the policing operation for King Charles’s coronation and the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral has been targeted by “vile” and “sexist” trolls on social media.
Leading police officers have now hit-out after Karen Findlay received “horrendous personal, sexist and homophobic” comments on X – formerly Twitter – after the British Transport Police announced she was joining from the Metropolitan Police.
The two forces have now condemned the comments.
Sir Mark Rowley, Met Police commissioner, said: “Whilst she has rightly received many congratulations, the X post announcing her appointment has also been targeted by online trolls, many anonymous, making horrendous personal sexist and homophobic comments.
“I am angry. My colleagues are angry. It isn’t acceptable and it’s happening too often.”
Ms Findlay – who was awarded the King’s Police Medal (KPM) and Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) for her work at the state funeral and coronation – also condemned the response.
She shared a post made by BTP’s Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi, which said: “I have been shocked to see how many people took our post, which was celebrating the appointment of a senior woman in policing, as an opportunity to respond with vile, nasty, and homophobic messages.”
Ms D’Orsi added that although she was “disgusted” by the replies, the post will remain up on X to “spotlight the misogyny that women in policing continue to face”.
Sir Mark also reflected on the issue of online abuse directed at police officers more widely.
He said: “The intensity of the racist, sexist, and homophobic abuse directed at police officers on social media is increasing alarmingly.
“At a time when we need to attract officers from under-represented parts of our communities this is hugely damaging.”
The commissioner added: “It is wholly unacceptable that those whose profession is to protect and serve others increasingly face such intrusive, vile and hateful abuse.”
He urged people on social media to “reflect on their actions”, insisting that his colleagues “deserve better”.
