Legal challenge dropped against ex police fed chair

The former chairman of West Midlands Police Federation, who suggested claims of widespread racism in the force were "nonsense", has said the dropping of a legal challenge against him is the "final vindication".

Richard Cooke was suspended in 2024, after an investigation by the national federation body found his comments had breached professional standards.

Cooke said he hoped other reps would now have "the confidence to speak out", after the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) dropped its challenge against a High Court ruling that concluded he was unlawfully treated.

The national federation said it "remains resolute in its commitment to upholding standards".

Cooke was investigated by the PFEW two years ago over several comments he made on social media and in interviews.

One post on X claimed a forum called Brave Spaces, where police officers and staff could share experiences of racism, homophobia and sexism was a "fishing trip to collect hearsay and innuendo to smear colleagues".

When a former chief inspector claimed there was widespread racism and homophobia within the force, Cooke responded that it was "nonsense".

He later said he rejected the use of the word "widespread".

A decision to suspend the chairman was quashed by the High Court, it emerged in January.

One of the people who had filed complaints against Cooke was former West Midlands police officer Khizra Bano, who set up the Brave Spaces forum.

Bano said in January she was glad the PFEW had acted against him, "regardless of predictable challenge and pushback".

In his latest comments, Cooke said the judge had stated "this was not about whether the court agreed or not with" views he expressed.

But "rather [it was about] our protected right as elected representatives within a publicly accountable body to speak up behalf of our members as part of a public debate".

Cooke said his hope was that "this ruling will give current and future reps the confidence to speak out on relevant matters without fear of being summarily silenced by their own body".

"Needless to say those responsible should now resign without delay," he said.

A PFEW spokesperson said: "The Federation remains resolute in its commitment to upholding standards, challenging poor behaviour and maintaining confidence in policing."

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