AN ALL-WHITE panel set to interview the first round of candidates to fill the boots of the Met’s newest commissioner has been blasted by campaigners for failing to give black and other racialised minorities and qualified experts on race equality a stake in the selection process.

Matthew Rycroft, Permanent Secretary at the Home Office; Sophie Linden, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Sir Tom Windsor are behind the recruitment for the new boss following Cressida Dick’s embattled resignation from the post in February this year.

Sir Mark Rowley and Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave are the two contenders whittled down to go head-to-head for the top job. 

After the all-white panel have made their choice, the candidates will go before Boris Johnson, Home Secretary Priti Patel and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, with Johnson and Patel having the most say.

It comes after more than 170 race equality and criminal justice organisations signed a joint letter to the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, urging her to ensure the new Met Commissioner will acknowledge institutional racism and to include black and other ethnic minorities in finding the new boss.

“The new Commissioner will need to acknowledge past harms and start a process of reconciliation,” the letter read. 

“Trust won’t be re-built overnight, but effective leadership is crucial to set the right tone needed to begin that process as a matter of urgency.”

“In light of this, we would like a commitment that the recruitment process will involve people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities who have experienced policing, and that their views will be considered and valued.”

It added: “There are many community groups in London who work with young people on issues around policing who could be engaged in designing a process in which they would have some meaningful input.”

However, following the announcement of the white-washed panel it has cast doubt on the competency of the job’s successor after a catalogue of policing blunders under Cressida Dick’s watch.

Dick denied that the Met were institutionally racist, a bizarre position also shared by the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, Stephen Watson.

The kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving Met police officer in March 2021 and the “digraceful” racist, homophobic and misogynistic messages to emerge from Charing Cross police station brought the Met into disrepute.  

Andy George, President of the National Black Police Association, criticised the move by the Met as tensions with London’s black communities remained strained.

“Most disappointing given that most of our local associations sit on stakeholder panels in other forces!,” he said.  “I’ve also sat on these panels for the CEO of the College of Policing and the Independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board. Why is London so behind other areas when it comes to the process for the Commissioner?

Christina Jordean, a Social Justice Activist and an Independent Custody Visitor, said: “Purposely designed [the recruitment process] and maintained that way. The Met Police never taken fully into account, notice of Lord Scarman & MacPherson report around racism, STILL DENY heart of report that matters most. Racism, white supremacy, control of Black bodies is vicious, brutal. Black Lives Matter.”

Black and racially minortised people make up 40% of London’s population, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) but they were also found to have a more negative view of the police compared to the average Briton. 

Poll results from the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) showed that fewer than two in five (37%) people from ethnic minority backgrounds believe that they will be treated fairly by the police, in comparison to more than three out of five (62%) of white people.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan – who prompted Dick’s resignation earlier this year – warned that he would block the appointment of the new Met Commissioner if they failed to understand the “deep cultural problems” a rife in the police force.

Speaking at City Hall this week, he said: “I won’t support the appointment of a new commissioner unless they can demonstrate they understand the true extent of the cultural and organisation problems.

“London needs a reforming commissioner…I’ll accept nothing less.”

Mr Khan added that he was “hopeful” working with the Home Secretary to fill the job. 

Lee Jasper, the Vice Chair at BAME Lawyers for Justice, said: “The lack of diversity on the Met Commissioner’s interview panel is staggering. When one considers London is at least 40% black and Asian and in reality for the younger age groups, that figure rises to 60%.

“Ask yourself who on that panel will assess and evaluate the candidate’s response to the critical questions of restoring trust and confidence and answering determining whether they are capable of tackling the beast that is institutionalised racism?”

He added: “London is a world-class city, but no potential candidate worth their salt wants to work for or come anywhere near our hapless PM Boris Johnson. There are candidates in the US who have tremendous experience in tackling these issues. Yet, London was only able to shortlist two domestic candidates, both of whom are, in my view, offer nothing radical and are, in fact, Continuity Cress candidates.” 

Sir Stephen House remains as acting Met Commissioner until a replacement is appointed in this summer.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “The process to recruit a new Commissioner is underway and the Home Secretary’s priority is to select the very best person to lead the country’s largest police force and make London an even safer place to live and work. The selection process follows fair and open principles.”