LONDON, UK — A senior officer who led the Metropolitan Police’s Special Constabulary has been dismissed without notice following a misconduct hearing over the handling of intimate images, the force confirmed on 9 October 2026.

Special Chief Officer James Deller was found to have used his police-issued work phone on two occasions in July and August 2025 to photograph intimate images of a woman that had been sent to his personal device through WhatsApp’s “View Once” feature. The images were transferred between his devices before being deleted.

The conduct came to light during Project Galatasaray, a Metropolitan Police initiative focused on identifying corruption and professional misconduct. The force said lawful business monitoring and its data-analysis systems helped uncover evidence in the case.

Following an accelerated misconduct hearing on 9 October, Deller was dismissed and will be added to the College of Policing’s barred list, making him ineligible to serve in policing again.

The Metropolitan Police said it was also reviewing the future leadership and structure of the Special Constabulary as part of wider efforts to strengthen professional standards.

The case adds to scrutiny of police accountability and the use of official devices. The Met said misconduct that undermines public trust must be addressed robustly, including when it involves senior personnel.