Former West Yorkshire Police employee shared racist and pro-UDA tweets

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By Chloe Laversuch & PA MediaBBC News

April 19, 2023

Image source, James Manning/PA Wire

Legend,

William Lloyd-Hughes shared images of banned Northern Irish paramilitary group flags

A former police detention officer who shared ‘dangerous and despicable’ content in apparent support of a Northern Irish paramilitary group has been convicted.

William Lloyd-Hughes shared an image of gunmen in balaclavas posing with Ulster Defense Association (UDA) flags.

He was convicted by Westminster Magistrates’ Court after admitting an offense under the Terrorism Act.

Lloyd-Hughes, based in Huddersfield, who has resigned from West Yorkshire Police, has been given a community order.

The 27-year-old also admitted an offense under the Communications Act in relation to a racist social media post in which he used a hashtag implying support for the killing of black people.

The UDA was responsible for the murder of hundreds of people during the Troubles in Northern Ireland and often claimed responsibility for sectarian killings using the cover name Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF).

The UDA remained a legal organization until it was banned in August 1992.

Prosecutor Gillian Curl told the court on Wednesday that when Lloyd-Hughes was arrested he told police he had limited knowledge of the history of sectarian strife in Northern Ireland and had no not intend to post anything that supported a banned terrorist organization.

Lloyd Hughes also told officers in December that racist Twitter posts did not reflect his real views, according to court documents.

“Betrayal of public trust”

Handing down a concurrent community order sentence for the two offences, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring also imposed a 40-day rehabilitation requirement and said Lloyd-Hughes must complete 100 hours of unpaid work.

He must also pay a surcharge and prosecution costs totaling $199 within seven days.

Emily Barry, Regional Director of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), said: “The racist and deeply offensive views shared by Loyd-Hughes on his Twitter account are dangerous, vile and have absolutely no purpose. place in the police – or society as a whole.

“His shocking actions could not be further from the standards expected of a police employee, and are a complete betrayal of not only the public’s trust, but also that of his colleagues.”

The IOPC Fund said the charges followed an investigation by North East Counter Terrorism Police after a mandatory dismissal from the West Yorkshire force last September.

Lloyd-Hughes, who resigned from his post in February, will also face a police misconduct hearing.

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