Former police officer involved in racism storm employed at First Choice Homes

A former police officer who resigned after it was discovered he was part of a 'racist and homophobic' WhatsApp group, has been leading investigations into antisocial behaviour at an Oldham housing association.

Ex Police Constable Ashley Feest is employed as a Community Legal Officer at First Choice Homes, based on Union Street.

The role includes giving advice and support to colleagues at First Choice Homes on anti-social behaviour and investigating allegations of ASB amongst tenants.

Feest, along with PC Graham Atkinson and former officer Aaron Jones, were part of a WhatsApp group called ‘the Dispensables’.

Racist and homophobic posts were shared within the group, along with messages relating to drugs use and supply.

The trio all appeared before a recent disciplinary hearing.

The panel, led by an independent Legally Qualified Chair, ruled that Feest, who resigned from the police in March 2021 following a failed drugs test for anabolic steroids, would have been dismissed had he still been serving and was added to the College of Policing’s Barred List.

During the tribunal Mr Feest admitted that he shared a meme about slavery which was "grossly offensive, upsetting and abhorrent" and based on "awful stereotypes".

"The meme was not representative of my views. I'm in no way racist and never do I carry any prejudiced views".

He admitted 'shared an inappropriate joke one time'.

Mr Feest told the tribunal that he had taken a course of anabolic steroids 'one time' and had not done so previously.

He said he had had 'reservations' at the time, that he had wanted to imitate a fellow officer's physique, but it amounted to a 'lapse in my judgment'. 

He told the disciplinary hearing that he felt 'anxious' whilst out on patrol - particularly when he was working with a female officer - as he didn't feel he was 'able to protect them'.

He concluded: "I'm a good man who has endured a difficult life.

"I have made a mistake but there's no malice, there was no intent and there was no crime committed.

"There's no direct victims of my actions."

Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Allen, head of GMP Professional Standards Branch, said last week: “The conduct of these officers was a complete disgrace and it is fitting that three members of the WhatsApp group now find themselves barred from policing for life, with one also carrying a criminal conviction for offering to supply drugs.

“Whilst messages were sent across personal WhatsApp accounts, given the racist and homophobic content, in addition to other communications revelling in the misuse of drugs, any right to privacy these officers thought they had was ousted by their abhorrent conduct.

“The shameful behaviour of these officers risks undermining the noble work of all in GMP who serve our diverse communities with kindness and this is why I have no hesitation in demonstrating, very publicly, the hard line that will be taken when such repugnant behaviour is detected.

“GMP have given a firm commitment to expelling those whose behaviour risks bringing policing into disrepute and members of the ‘the Dispensables’ WhatsApp group may now recognise that our actions very much match our words given their now dispensed status from policing."

A spokesperson for First Choice Homes Oldham told the Chronicle: “Following the disciplinary hearing held by Greater Manchester Police last week, we have recently become aware of historic matters concerning Mr Feest’s employment with GMP before he joined our organisation, and these have been addressed by his employer at that time.

“Our organisational values underpin everything we do and we deeply care about our customers and communities. Discrimination of any kind has no place at FCHO and we can assure residents that we take a zero-tolerance approach to any behaviours that go against what we stand for.

“Mr Feest has been employed by us as a Community Legal Officer since 2021, and can confirm that all our usual processes and checks were carried out during our recruitment process.

“We are in the process of conducting our own internal review in light of the recent findings. 

"Mr Feest isn't carrying out any customer facing duties currently while this process is conducted which is in line with our usual internal procedures and so it is not appropriate to comment further at this time.”

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