A Metropolitan Police detective chief inspector has faced a misconduct hearing after sending more than 1,000 sexually explicit messages to two female colleagues and attempting to arrange sexual encounters inside police buildings. Chris Soole, previously attached to the Met's homicide and major crime command, used a force-issued phone to send the messages, raising serious questions about professional standards and abuse of position within one of Britain's largest police forces.

The messages were sent between May and November last year and included Soole telling one officer he was "very keen to be sorted out and put in my place." The hearing was told the exchanges revealed a "consistent pattern" of attempts to organise private meetings within police stations, with a focus on secrecy, locked offices and avoiding interruption from colleagues.