An email showing a man being decapitated has led to disciplinary action for 100 Herfordshire police officers and staff after a "robust" investigation. The American email at the centre of the controversy reportedly showed images of a black man who, during a police chase in Atlanta, attempted to jump from a flyover onto the roof of a building and was then decapitated after falling on railings.
The email, entitled "do not run from the police", was distributed to 400 officers and staff, of which 100 viewed the disturbing content. The remaining 300 deleted the message. Deputy chief constable Simon Ash said: "I am disappointed by the conduct of officers and staff who distributed this inappropriate image that some people may have perceived as being racist." However, Adam Kemp, chairman of the Hertfordshire Police Association told the BBC that the disciplinary action did not relate to any racist offence, but rather that staff had breached the force"s internet security policy.