The Metropolitan police force has announced the ‘largest reform of culture and standards in decades’, including:
- 100 police officers have been dismissed for gross misconduct in the last 12 months.
- A total of 183 officers are currently suspended, up from 69 in September 2022 – a 165 per cent increase.
- Reports of alleged misconduct nearly doubling from 876 to 1,668 over the last 12 months.
Responding to the announcement, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, says: “That so many officers are under investigation for violence against women is further evidence of the unacceptable culture at the heart of the Metropolitan police that has been permitted for far too long.
“I strongly welcome these efforts led by Mark Rowley to eradicate officers who fall far short of the most basic expectations of the police. Every single officer under investigation must be suspended with their warrant cards confiscated, so that they can do no further harm using police powers.
“The Metropolitan police must also go further to ensure future perpetrators have no place in the force. I want to see radical culture change, from strong vetting processes, to ensuring safety and accountability from the moment a report about a police officer is made. It is also imperative that misconduct hearings are transparent and independently chaired, rather than being the responsibility of chief constables over their own officers.
“Victims and survivors can only safely come forward knowing that not only the metropolitan police but every force across the country has undertaken systemic reforms to eradicate police-perpetrators from their ranks.”