Met Police in Talks Over Daniel Morgan Murder Settlement
Historic Case Still Haunts the Met
The Metropolitan Police are currently negotiating a settlement with the family of Daniel Morgan, the private detective brutally murdered in 1987. Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley revealed on BBC Radio 4’s Today program that he could not disclose the payout figure due to legal constraints. Morgan was found with an axe embedded in his head in a Sydenham pub car park, southeast London.
The shocking murder sparked five failed investigations and an inquest, but no one has ever been convicted. The entire saga has cost the Met a whopping £40 million. The force has admitted that corruption derailed the original probe and has formally apologised to the Morgan family. An independent panel in 2021 slammed the Met for repeated cover-ups.
Corruption and Cover-Ups Exposed
Baroness O’Loan, who led the independent inquiry, blasted the Met for prioritising its own protection over justice. The force has been dogged by accusations of institutional corruption but claims it is now cleaning house and tackling its failings head-on.
Crackdown on Rogue Cops
Sir Mark highlighted the Met’s tough stance on internal misconduct. More officers are coming forward with allegations, leading to a surge in investigations and the removal of wrongdoers. He warned the purge will take time but insisted progress is underway, with potentially hundreds of officers facing disciplinary action—far more than previous years.
New Tools Target Violent Offenders
The Met is also using the cambridge/" title="Cambridge" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Cambridge Crime Harm Index to zero in on the most dangerous offenders, particularly in crimes against women. This tool ranks offenders not by number of offences but by the level of harm caused.
By analysing tens of thousands of convicted men involved in domestic abuse, rape, stalking, and harassment, the force identifies the top 100 highest-risk individuals. The goal: to proactively snag repeat offenders before they strike again.
Sir Mark’s tough reforms suggest a Met determined to shake off its corrupt past and restore public trust. But with the shadow of Daniel Morgan’s murder still looming, the pressure remains on.
