A THAMES Valley Police officer is accused of telling a ‘racist joke’ to his colleagues.

PC Nicholas Barnes offended other police officers and made them feel ‘embarrassed and awkward, shocked and annoyed’ in the briefing room at work on April 15 last year.

The PC, who is based in High Wycombe, will now face the heads of the force at a misconduct hearing at the police HQ in Kidlington on February 26.

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There it will be decided if he breached the ‘standards of professional behaviour’ expected of him – specifically the codes: ‘Equality and Diversity’, ‘Authority, Respect and Courtesy’ and ‘Discreditable Conduct’.

It is so serious that if it is proven then he will have committed gross misconduct and could be fired on the spot.

The hearing will take place over video link and members of the public will not be able to attend in person.

A report will be published afterwards.

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