Met Police put under ‘special measures’ after ongoing scandals

IOPC says figures are the highest since 2017/18 (Photo: Getty)

THE METROPOLITAN Police has been plunged under strict “special measures” after a series of scandals left the force in disrepute. 

Matt Parr, the Inspector of Constabulary at the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, confronted the ongoing policing errors in a letter to acting Met Commissioner Stephen House where he listed “high profile incidents” having taken place under the Met’s watch.

Child Q, the 15-year-old black girl who was stripped search while menustrating and the stop and search of athlete Bianca Williams were mentioned as a sign of the Met’s “toxic culture.”

The kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officers in March 2021 and the inquiry into the murder of Daniel Morgan were all deemed “likely to have a chilling effect on public trust and confidence in the Met.”

In a statement, the HMICFRS confirmed the damning news and said: “We can confirm that we are now monitoring the Metropolitan Police Service through our Engage process, which provides additional scrutiny and support to help it make improvements.”

The drastic decision comes as an all-white panel is preparing to whittle down the best contenders to take over the top job this summer following Cressida Dick’s resignation earlier this year. 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who previously said he would block the appointment of the next commissioner if they failed to understand the cultural changes needed in the police force welcomed the decision.

“The decision by the HMIC to now move the Met into special measures has laid bare the substantial performance failings by the force,” he said.

“A series of appalling scandals have not only exposed deep cultural problems but have damaged the confidence of Londoners in the capital’s police service.”

“As I have been saying for some time, Londoners deserve better. That’s why we now need to see nothing less than a new contract forged between the police and the public in London.

“This means root and branch reforms and systemic change to the Met’s performance and culture.”

Home Secretary Priti Patel, who will spearhead the appointment of the new boss, said: “The public put their trust in the police and rightly expect the country’s largest force to protect them effectively and carry out their duties to the highest professional standards. As Home Secretary, I have overseen the largest funding boost for policing in a decade, and the Government has committed to an extra 20,000 police officers, with 2,599 already recruited by the Metropolitan Police.

“I expect the police to get the basics right. It is clear the Metropolitan Police Service is falling short of these expectations which is why I support the action that HMICFRS has taken today to highlight their failings – and I expect the Met and the London Mayor to take immediate action to begin addressing them.”

The Met police now remain under intense scrutiny following the investigation by HMICFRS who are expected to release the outcome to the public at a later date. 

Race activists and campaigners await the final decision of the new boss after already writing to Ms Patel calling for the voices of black and other minoritised communities to be involved in the recruitment process and for institutional racism to be acknowledged. 

In a statement, the Met said: “We recognise the cumulative impact of events and problems that the Met is dealing with. We understand the impact this has had on communities and we share their disappointment.

“We are determined to be a police service Londoners can be proud of. We are talking to the Inspectorate about next steps.”

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