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Richard Cooke, the former chair of the UK’s West Midlands Police Federation, is preparing a legal challenge after being removed from office over comments he made defending his police force. Backed by the Free Speech Union, Cooke argues that his removal was an attack on his right to represent the views of officers.
The dispute began when Cooke responded on X to a Channel 4 News report that described racism and misogyny as widespread within West Midlands Police.
Cooke wrote: “I don’t recognize these attitudes. They do not represent us – we are an anti-racist organization.” In a separate post, he said: “Nonsense – and so was the report but these reporters rarely bother checking their sources.”
Following these posts, the Police Federation of England and Wales suspended Cooke.
The Federation barred him from seeking re-election for three years. According to the Federation, his comments risked alienating members who had experienced discrimination.
A spokesperson said: “Richard Cooke was removed from his role as Chair of the West Midlands Federation branch following an extensive process, which included an appeal. He was investigated following complaints from members about comments on social media which were judged by a panel of his peers to have been in breach of the Federation’s standards.”
The complaints came from two officers who appeared in the Channel 4 show. Cooke’s appeal was rejected after a hearing that he was not permitted to attend. His exclusion from the ballot led to a change in the Federation’s leadership.
Cooke had been elected chair three times since 2018. He describes his removal as a political decision intended to silence him.
Speaking to the Telegraph, he said: “I have been removed from office for speaking out in defense of my members and for reflecting their views, which is what I was elected to do. The media report wrongly suggested that racism and misogyny were widespread in West Midlands Police. I challenged that because I do not recognise that and it is unfair to the vast majority of my colleagues. I did not suggest that racism and misogyny do not exist within the force but to shut me down for stating my views is deeply sinister. This is a witch hunt.”
Cooke now seeks to take legal action and is working alongside Rick Prior, the former chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, who also faced disciplinary action under similar circumstances.
The Free Speech Union commented: “Twenty-five years ago, a Police Federation Chair would have been suspended for disparaging his fellow officers. Today, you get suspended for defending them.”
The Federation maintains that its procedures were followed in line with statutory rules. Cooke remains a serving officer with West Midlands Police. The case is likely to test how far elected representatives of public bodies can go in expressing their views without facing disciplinary consequences.
