Thursday, May 1, 2025

This week I'm writing in praise of unsung heroes – those willing to put their heads above the parapet, to speak out in the name of truth and hold those in power to account. Issy Vine is one of those heroes. 

 Whistleblowing on a Met Police colleague was the beginning of an alarming journey for former 999 call handler Issy, who’s now suing the force for constructive dismissal.

 What she heard on shift in April 2023 shocked her.

 "I had settled into answering emergency calls and found myself sitting next to a colleague I had never met before. Throughout the shift he made horrific and unnerving comments to me, such as “she sounds like a sl**” about a rape victim.

He typed on his phone “why don’t you f*** off back to your own country” about an immigrant and whispered “Sarah Everard turf” into my ear while I was trying to help a victim on an emergency call, and he could see a map of the Clapham area on my screen. I even hung back after our shift ended to avoid him leaving, but – to my surprise – he was still outside when I exited and proceeded to follow me for the beginning part of my journey home, despite him saying earlier that day that he lived in the opposite direction."

Issy reported him and he was dismissed for gross misconduct, but was later reinstated because the appeal decision-maker thought it was “too harsh” and that the original panel was “too heavily swayed” by the police movement to combat violence against women and girls. 

Issy battled for the force to do the right thing for 18 months – but finally left the force in November 2024, her mental health in tatters. She's now suing the Met for constructive dismissal.

Read here for her full and startling story – and for details of how you can help. Until next week...

Victoria Richards

Voices Editor and Dear Vix

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