Officer sacked for 'appalling' remarks on Panorama

A police officer who was caught making inappropriate and discriminatory comments about two women during an undercover Panorama investigation has been sacked without notice.

An accelerated misconduct hearing found that PC Charlie Cano, who worked at Charing Cross police station, made disrespectful remarks and boasted about using force against a teenage female detainee.

He was attached to the Central West Command Unit and his behaviour, branded "appalling" by a senior officer, came to light after the BBC investigation into conduct at the central London police station in October 2025.

Unaired footage captured his words and he was immediately suspended from duty, the Metropolitan Police said.

Commander Simon Messinger said Cano's behaviour recorded by an undercover journalist working covertly in the custody suite was "appalling".

The hearing found PC Cano breached the standards of professional behaviour relating to discreditable conduct, authority, respect and courtesy, and equality and diversity.

Messinger said eight police officers have been dismissed for their "unacceptable conduct" at Charing Cross.

He added the Met is supporting an ongoing Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation into the behaviour of "a number of officers" at the police station.

The police are working "tirelessly" to raise standards and improve its culture in London, he said.

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