- PC Khafilat Kareem appeared on the Nigerian version of Big Brother in July 2019
- The constable was denied permission by her bosses but joined the show anyway
- She took her work laptop and gave it to the show’s producers without permission
- On the show she entered a relationship with Ekpata Gedoni who she has married
A Metropolitan Police Constable has kept her job despite appearing on the Nigerian version of Big Brother without permission.
PC Khafilat Kareem, who worked had been given unpaid time off but her bosses refused her permission to go on the show, feeling it was ‘no in the best interest’ of her or the force for her to take part.
Despite this PC Kareem, who had been based at Lambeth Police Station since 2015, left the country to take part, and took her work laptop with her which she then gave to the show’s producers.
While in the house she formed a relationship Ekpata Gedoni and allegedly had sex with him on the show. The couple have since married.
A misconduct hearing convened to determine her future found she had committed gross misconduct, but stopped short of sacking her, instead giving her a final written warning.
The officer (pictured) was a poster girl for the Met as they celebrated 100 years of female contribution to the force
The officer (pictured with Mr Gedoni on the reality TV show) was given a final written warning at a misconduct hearing for her actions
The panel, led by an independent legally qualified chair, decided PC Kareem had breached the standards of professional behaviour in relation to ‘orders and instructions’ and ‘discreditable conduct’.
Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Day said: ‘Permission was refused for PC Kareem to appear on the Nigerian version of Big Brother as it was felt it was not in the best interest for either her or the Metropolitan Police Service to take part.
‘Despite this refusal, she went on the show anyway.
‘A detailed investigation was carried out by the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards which concluded PC Kareem should face gross misconduct proceedings.
Kareem pictured above with Mr Gedoni on the show. The couple have since married
‘Being a police officer means you must abide by the standards of professional behaviour.
‘PC Kareem’s behaviour clearly fell far short and she has been given a final written warning.’
In June 2019, PC Kareem requested unpaid leave to appear on the show and was warned against appearing on it by her bosses.
They granted her request for unpaid leave though, and shortly afterwards she left the UK and without permission took her work laptop with her.
She featured in the show in July 2019 and surrendered her laptop to the show’s organisers.
PC Kareem (pictured left) was not given permission by the force to appear on the reality TV show
The British police officer (pictured on the reality TV show kissing her future husband Ekpata Gedoni) faced being sacked for her actions
The panel found this breach of professional standards, relating to the laptop, proven at the level of misconduct.
While she was on the show the constable formed a relationship with fellow contestant Gedoni Ekpata, who later became her fiance.
Audiences were caught up in their liaisons, with the couple allegedly having sex on the show, while colleagues feared she was tarnishing the Metropolitan Police’s reputation.
After the report in the Sun she took to Instagram to slam the article, while appealing for votes.
She urged people to back ‘TEAMKHAFI’ and shared a link through which to vote and shared a statement from the show’s management which described her as ‘a proud black female police officer’ as it warned that legal action was being considered.
Miss Kareem (pictured) began as a PC at Lambeth station in 2015 after four years spent as a part-time special constable
The officer was used as a ‘poster girl’ for the Met, posing alongside Met Commissioner Cressida Dick to encourage black and female recruitment and celebrate 100 years of women in the force.
One colleague told the Sun: ‘She’s a serving British police officer – it’s outrageous. She asked permission to go on the show but, when her request was refused, she went anyway.
‘Her out-of-office email reply blatantly says that she is away from work, yet no one does anything.
‘Other officers working with her are furious that she can just disobey orders then swan off the Africa and tarnish the reputation of the force.’
Miss Kareem began as a PC at Lambeth station in 2015 after four years spent as a part-time special constable.
The officer, who has spoken against stop-and-search, joined up after a 16-year-old friend was stabbed to death.
The PC worked as a spotter at airports, looking for possible victims of female genital mutilation (FGM).
She also acted as a translator as she speaks French, Italian and her native Yoruba.
Publicity material for the programme showed Miss Kareem in her uniform, branding her a talented singer and dancer.
The material said of Miss Kareem: ‘Police officer Khafi Kareem believes that you can have it all if you believe in yourself.
‘She is not only hoping to win the prize money but she wants the exposure that being in Big Brother Naija House brings so that she can do societal good.’
Her romance with Mr Gedoni gripped viewers of the show.
Pictured: Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick (front and centre) with PC Kareem stood behind her on her immediate right as the Met celebrated 100 years of women working in the force in November last year
Nigerian news websites published footage of the couple appearing to be in an act of congress beneath the sheets.
One article said: ‘There are now fears that Khafi may leave Big Brother Naija House pregnant as she and lovebird Gedoni continued their sizzling romance. The cameras caught them for the third time overnight as other housemates were dead asleep.
‘The footage, now trending, showed the lovebirds moving their bodies in ecstasy under the sheets.
PC Khafi Kareem, 29, from the Metropolitan Police, was warned not to take part in Nigerian Big Brother
‘Gedoni and Khafi first romped in the house on Saturday, July 20 and then again on Tuesday, July 23.’
Her participation has left her fellow officers unimpressed. Another Met source told the Sun: ‘There should be no way back for her from this and her superiors will have to act.
‘She fitted the mould perfectly for how the modern force wants to portray itself but seems to have got a bit too big for her boots.
‘It’s hard to see how can she argue that she hasn’t brought the force into disrepute.’
A Met spokesman said at the time: ‘The Met does not support the officer’s appearance nor does she represent the Met whilst appearing on the show.
‘All officers have a duty to behave with professionalism and in a manner that does not bring the Met into disrepute whether on or off duty.
‘Those who do not behave professionally risk breaching police standards of professional behaviour, and may be dealt with by way of misconduct proceedings.’
Daily Mail (UK)
