A PROBE has begun over allegations that Islamophobic and misogynist messages were posted by Islington police in a WhatsApp group.

Twelve of 14 officers in the group have been put on desk duties – removing them from “public-facing” roles – during a “professional standards investigation”.

The officers are all part of a “front-line policing” emergency response team covering Islington and Camden.

The allegations are that one officer made offensive comments, and a number of others supported those comments and did not report them.

One officer challenged them and left the group while another officer invited into the group reported what had happened.

Commander Owain Richards, in charge of front-line policing for the area, said: “Discriminatory language of any kind will not be tolerated and action will be taken against any officer where the investigation establishes evidence of wrongdoing.”

A spokesman for the Independent Office of Police Conduct said: “At the conclusion of the investigation, we will decide if any officers should face any disciplinary action or if the force should refer the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service to consider any criminal charges.”