Eight Met Police officers are being investigated for gross misconduct following the force’s failings in the case of Grindr serial killer, Stephen Port.

It comes after a former Met Police officer says a colleague shared a picture of a Kent man who had been murdered by Port on a WhatsApp group.

He claims to have been based at Barking station which investigated the deaths of four young men, including Gravesend chef Daniel Whitworth, between 2014 and 2015.

Among general allegations of homophobia in the force, he alleges an officer took a picture of Daniel's body, lying wrapped in a sheet in a graveyard.

He says this was then circulated to a WhatsApp group of officers called 'Hunters and Gatherers'.

Port killed 21-year-old Daniel, who grew up in Bean Road, Greenhithe and went to Dartford Grammar School before study catering at North West Kent College, along with Anthony Walgate, 23, Gabriel Kovari, 22, and Jack Taylor, 25.

He supplied them with fatal overdoses of the drug GHB and then dumped their bodies near his flat in Barking, east London.

In 2016, the 46-year-old killer from Barking, was found guilty of the four murders.

Today the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed they are investigating the conduct of five current and three former Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers following its re-investigation into how the murders were originally handled.

A spokesman explained that all eight have recently been told they are being investigated for gross misconduct for possible breaches of police professional standards relating variously to equality and diversity, duties and responsibilities, authority respect and courtesy and honesty and integrity.

Five of the officers were subjects in the investigation by the organisations predecessor, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

In June 2022, the IOPC announced it was re-investigating the way the Met initially handled its investigations into the deaths after new evidence, previously unknown to the organisation, was given by Met officers at inquest hearings which concluded in late 2021.

In the original IPCC investigation, which was completed in August 2018, the actions of multiple officers were examined and 17 of those were subjects in the investigation.

When interviewed, 16 of the 17 officers chose to provide written accounts.

As part of the reinvestigation, the IOPC spokesman explained the organisation thoroughly reviewed the original investigation material, the information provided to the 2021 inquest, and other relevant material, including related coroner’s reports from those inquests held before a murder investigation was launched by the Met.

The IOPC is continuing to follow lines of inquiry and will be conducting further witness interviews.

To date it has examined 3,500 documents from various sources, including police investigations, the multiple inquests that have been held, the Port murder trial, the statements given to the original IPCC investigation and then to the subsequent inquest in 2021.

IOPC regional director Steve Noonan said: “Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of Anthony, Gabriel, Daniel and Jack who were tragically murdered by Stephen Port in Barking.

“I want to pay tribute to the families of these young men who have shown considerable patience as we got to the position we are in now.

“Our re-investigation has been, and continues to be, thorough and detailed.

“We recognise it has taken some time to reach this stage, but these are complex matters, involving multiple officers and four investigations into unexplained deaths and then the subsequent murder investigation into Port.

“Though we have found an indication that the behaviour of these eight individuals may have amounted to gross misconduct, this does not necessarily mean disciplinary proceedings will automatically follow.

“Based on the evidence, at the conclusion of our investigation we will decide whether any officers should face disciplinary proceedings.”

A spokesman for the Met said the force has made a “range of improvements” including the restoration of full-time LGBT+ liaison officers.

Commander Jon Savell said: “We continue to fully support a re-investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct into the initial police response into the deaths of Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor.

“We are aware of the latest update from the IOPC.

“The deaths of these four young men is a tragedy and we are deeply sorry there were failings in our police response.

“Again, I give my own and the Met’s heartfelt apologies. Our thoughts are, as always, with their families and friends.

“The whole of the Met is committed to improving our investigations, our relationships and the trust people have in us to keep them safe.

“Since the deaths of Anthony, Gabriel, Daniel and Jack we continue to work hard to ensure the service we provide is better while understanding we have more to do.

“Learning and recommendations from the IOPC, His Majesty’s Coroner, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services and our LGBT+ Independent Advisory Group of community members have enabled us to make a range of improvements so far.

“These include restoring full time LGBT+ liaison officers across the Met to focus on working with LGBT+ people and organisations in London, how we respond to and investigate unexpected deaths, and family liaison.”