Met Police Chief Slams High Court Ruling That Blocks Dismissal of Officers Who Fail Vetting
High Court Halts Met’s Tough Stance on Rogue Officers
The High Court has dealt a blow to the Metropolitan Police’s efforts to clean up its ranks by overturning Operation Assure. The ruling stops the force from firing officers who fail strict vetting checks, leaving policing in what Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley calls a “hopeless position.”
The case centres on Sgt Lino Di Maria, accused of rape and misconduct, who successfully challenged his forced vetting removal and referral to gross incompetence proceedings. This ruling now freezes the dismissal of officers under serious misconduct suspicion — and could affect hundreds more currently under review.
Rowley Demands Urgent Law Changes to Protect Public
Sir Mark Rowley blasted the Government for stalling on vital reforms. He said police chiefs have pleaded for powers to sack unfit officers for over 20 years with empty promises in return. He warned:
“Being able to sack officers who fail vetting is critical. Under Operation Assure in the last 18 months:
- 96 officers have been sacked or resigned over vetting failures.
- 29 are on special vetting leave.
- 100+ officers are under review.
Those removed failed to meet standards police would demand if joining today. Yet the ruling means we can’t lawfully rid the Met of officers unsafe to work with women or vulnerable people — a situation unthinkable in any other field.”
Operation Assure: Met’s Tough New Policing Clean-Up
Launch in March 2023, Operation Assure was designed to boot out officers tainted by serious misconduct, including allegations of sexual abuse, harassment, and domestic violence.
This came after scandals like:
- PC Wayne Couzens, who kidnapped, raped, and murdered Sarah Everard.
- PC David Carrick, a serial rapist committing crimes while on duty.
Since launch:
- 107 officers had vetting withdrawn.
- 96 resigned or were dismissed.
- 24 dismissed after incompetence hearings.
- Approximately 100 still under review.
The Court’s ruling now stalls this progress, leaving problematic officers like Sgt Di Maria in legal limbo.
Government Fails to Act Despite Years of Warnings
Sir Mark Rowley warned that decades of demands for legal reform to remove dangerous officers have been ignored. Now, even those accused of grave misconduct can stick around the Met if not convicted of a crime.
Police Federation Backs Rogue Officer’s Legal Challenge
The Met Police Federation sided with Sgt Di Maria, arguing vetting removals without due process breach officers’ rights. Critics slam this, saying the ruling puts officers’ rights above public safety. Rowley hit back:
“This ruling focuses on Sgt Di Maria’s human rights but ignores the rights of the public and colleagues who must work alongside officers like him.”
“The judge spotted a legal gap. We tried to fix it, but now the Government must act fast.”
What’s Next for Officers Who Fail Vetting?
The Met plans to appeal. Meanwhile, officers failing vetting will be placed on “special vetting leave”: paid by taxpayers but barred from duty. Rowley slammed this as a “ridiculous waste of public money,” but said it’s the safest option until laws change.
The ruling is expected to ignite fierce political debate over police accountability and could dent public trust in the Met’s reforms.
