Metropolitan Police officers are 'getting away with breaking the law' review finds
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Metropolitan Police officers are essentially getting away with breaking the law, according to the findings of a report.
Baroness Louise Casey – who conducted the damning review – found that many claims of sexual misconduct, misogyny, racism and homophobia were badly mishandled.
"We have heard repeatedly from colleagues that they feel and believe, and actually have given us case examples of where people are getting away both with misconduct but also criminal behaviour," Casey said.
According to the report, 1,809 officers – or 20% of all those facing allegations – had more than one complaint raised against them, with 500 of those facing between three to five separate misconduct cases since 2013. Shockingly, one serving officer had 11 misconduct notices for allegations involving assault, sexual harassment and fraud.
But, Casey's team said that less than 1% of officers facing multiple allegations had been dismissed from the force, with one continuing to serve despite facing multiple serious allegations such as corruption, traffic offences and "failure to safeguard while off duty".
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the report's findings showed that hundreds of his officers should have been sacked. In a written reply to Casey, the commissioner said he was "appalled by the extent of the findings you expose".
Rowley added: "I am sorry to those we have let down: both the public and our honest and dedicated officers."
Rowley admitted that only between 30 and 50 people are sacked a year and that was not enough. "There must be hundreds of people who shouldn't be here who should have been thrown out," he added.
In her report – which was commissioned in the aftermath of the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by serving Met PC Wayne Couzens – Casey described the current system as "not fit for purpose" and said "this has to be a line in the sand moment".
Casey's report also pointed out that there is a level of systemic bias and racism within the Met that could be called an example of institutional racism, although it was emphasised that this is not the same as saying the force is institutionally racist. In a letter to Rowley, Casey highlighted this as well as eight key issues that should be addressed urgently.
She wrote: "Cases are taking too long to resolve, allegations are more likely to be dismissed than acted upon, the burden on those raising concerns is too heavy, and there is racial disparity across the system, with white officers dealt with less harshly than black or Asian officers."
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