Met Police officers warned not to strip naked at G-A-Y’s Porn Idol
G-A-Y Porn Idol at Heaven in London. (Getty)
Met police officers have been warned against stripping off at the famous G-A-Y Porn Idol night.
G-A-Y Porn Idol, which takes place each Thursday night at the Heaven nightclub in London, is a raucous competition in which people strip completely naked on stage to win a cash prize.
It’s a popular night, attracting entrants from all walks of life – including serving Met police officers.
Apparently the force – currently under special measures due to its systemic failures and culture of racism, homophobia and misogyny – has decided that off-duty officers getting naked on stage is where it draws the line.
Senior police have warned officers not to take part in Porn Idol going forward, saying it would be “awkward” when they returned to the venue in uniform on shift.
Officers at the Central West Basic Command Unit (BCU), which covers Charing Cross, where Heaven is, were told “CCTV would be viewed and officers spoken to” if they took part.
“It makes it awkward for the staff at the location to then have to deal with you when you are next on shift attending the venue to carry out official duties,” said an email sent to West End police, according to The Times.
A Scotland Yard spokesperson stressed that no “unlawful” acts have taken place during Porn Idol but that officers should “uphold standards” of the force when off duty.
Kerry Katona judges Porn Idol contestants at G-A-Y Heaven. (Jo Hale/Redferns)
The spokesperson said: “An inspector from the West End Proactive Partnership Team has sent an email to staff within the Met’s Central West BCU after a matter was reported to the Met’s Licensing officers.
“There is no suggestion of any unlawful act having taken place.
“However, officers were reminded of the need to uphold standards while off duty, especially when identifying themselves as police officers.”
It comes after London’s troubled police force was placed in special measures in June over several “serious or critical shortcomings”.
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) now requires Met inspectors to report more frequently and meet certain targets.
Among the many scandals that have rocked the Met, a police watchdog found that misogyny, racism, homophobia and bullying runs through its ranks. The report prompted former Met commissioner Cressida Dick to step down after losing the confidence of Sadiq Khan.
Scotland Yard has also come under fire over its handling of the murders of four gay men by Stephen Port, with friends of the victims accusing investigators of “institutional homophobia“.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) announced in June that it would investigate the Met once again over how the Port case was handled.
