Met Police Slammed Over Shocking Racist and Sexist Messages
The Met Police have issued a blunt apology to Londoners over the disgraceful conduct of some officers caught exchanging sexist, racist, and discriminatory messages. The behaviour, uncovered back in 2017, has dealt a serious blow to public trust.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Speaks Out
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Bas Javid voiced his fury and disappointment. “I am angry and disappointed to see officers involved in sharing sexist, racist and discriminatory messages. It’s clear we have a lot of work to do to ensure bullying and discrimination does not exist in any part of the Met.”
He added, “The actions of these officers between 2016 and 2018 were unacceptable, unprofessional, disrespectful and deeply offensive. I read their messages with increasing disgust and shame.”
Javid confirmed disciplinary action has already been taken. “We haven’t waited for the IOPC’s report to take action – a number of officers have faced misconduct proceedings, including one officer dismissed and another who would have been dismissed had he not resigned. Every Met employee has been spoken to about responsible social media use.”
“We recognize the need for real change and are committed to creating an environment that is even more intolerant of those who fail to uphold the high standards expected of us.”
Investigations Reveal Grim Findings
- 14 officers investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
- Two faced gross misconduct charges. One was dismissed; the other resigned before dismissal.
- Misconduct found in two officers after misconduct meetings—one got a written warning, one no further action thanks to performance improvements.
- Two officers entered unsatisfactory performance procedures.
- Two officers underwent reflective practice for performance improvement.
- Four officers cleared with no case to answer.
The Met says it will carefully consider several recommendations from the IOPC report before responding.
Rebuilding Trust: What’s Being Done?
London’s Met Commissioner has enlisted Baroness Louise Casey to lead an independent review into Met culture and professional standards. The aim: tough questions and lasting reform.
Urgent actions are already underway:
- Boosted professional standards investigators to root out misconduct.
- Disbanded the problematic unit investigated by the IOPC in 2018.
- Introduced 12 new Chief Inspector posts to drive up standards across local policing.
- Appointed a dedicated Chief Inspector at Central West Basic Command Unit, including Charing Cross Police Station, to improve leadership in London’s West End.
The Met acknowledges that restoring public faith won’t happen overnight, but are listening closely to Londoners and partners. They urge anyone concerned about officer conduct to report it via the Met website or by calling 101.
Met staff can report anonymously through the confidential “Right Line” phone service.
Find out more about the Met’s action plan in their Rebuilding Trust – Update on Progress.
