A few hundred Met police officers should be fired to purge the ranks of racists, sexists and homophobes, the author of a scathing review of police said today.
Baroness Casey told the London Assembly Police and Crime committee that disciplinary procedures should be tightened as part of a crackdown on rogue agents.
Her review, published yesterday, exposed a ‘broken and corrupt’ organization that tolerates abusive behavior and abandons rape victims.
The impact of the report has been felt beyond London, with police and crime commissioners across the country today pledging to implement their own reforms in response.
This morning Baroness Casey was asked by a member of the London Assembly how many officers should be dismissed in light of the misconduct she discovered.
Sir Mark told politicians at Town Hall today that the report ‘exposes discrimination in the organisation’
Mr Marc [Rowley] will have a better sense of himself, but I know we’re not talking about hundreds, but several hundred I would guess and I think Sir Mark will say the same thing later this morning,’ she said.
The Met Commissioner later confirmed her estimate, telling the committee, “We are testing another legal route to remove officers, who we believe no longer meet vetting standards, something that has not been done in the past.”
“So get rid of the hundreds of people who shouldn’t be here [in the Met] is clearly part of the solution, and you’ll see progress on that in my next update – as well as setting up the vast majority of good people with better resources to do that.”
The commissioner insisted there is “momentum” to overhaul the Met, but said it would take time.
Speaking to politicians at Town Hall today, Sir Mark said the report “exposes discrimination in the organisation”, not just against individuals, but “also the systemic failings within the organisation, the failings of management and the cultural failings”, adding adding, “I welcome the findings and hope it acts as a catalyst.”
He said he and senior leaders went through a “bit of a rollercoaster of emotions” as they processed the findings, which included anger, frustration, embarrassment and being upset, but also more “positive emotions” because it “redoubles your intent and determination.” ‘.
“We have momentum, we’re building that momentum, and we welcome the kind of additional thinking that can make it deeper,” he said.
Sir Mark said it is ‘helpful’ that the report draws attention to issues beyond the Met’s control – such as funding and growing demand – but they should not be used as an ‘excuse’. us to fix.’
“Me and my new leadership team are driving the Met. We’re trying to bring other people in to help us,” he said, adding later: “I don’t want to say ‘I’m not doing anything right now, I’m just going to think for the next few months’ because that would honestly sound a little wet . Because that’s not what happens – there’s a lot we do.
“But I’m also not suggesting that a list of six things is going to solve everything.”
It comes as several police and crime commissioners spoke out today to acknowledge that the Casey review would erode public confidence in the police outside the capital.
Sussex PCC Katy Bourne said: ‘When the Met sneezes, all other forces catch a cold because of the scale and impact on national headlines and public perception.’
Ms Bourne called the Casey report a ‘critical moment’ for the Met and for all British police forces whose foundations have been ‘upended and undermined’.
“Public confidence has already plummeted and today’s release of the Casey report could sink it for years to come,” she continued.
Ms. Bourne promised to make the necessary changes in investment to increase diversity and to vet and re-screen officers and personnel.
“We can’t afford not to,” she added. “You can’t catch criminals with dirty cops.”
West Midlands PCC Simon Foster announced he will convene a Public Accountability Forum in response to the ‘deeply and profoundly damning’ report.
“In response, I will convene a West Midlands Police Public Accountability Forum where West Midlands Police can openly and transparently explain to the public, key stakeholders and the media about the work being done within West Midlands Police. done to and tackle all forms of racism, misogyny, homophobia and corruption, and how we can do more in light of Baroness Casey’s findings,” said Mr Foster.
He added that he holds West Midlands Police accountable for ensuring they comply with vetting procedures and performance, and that officers and staff deal with complaints and misconduct.
Mr Foster said he is committed to taking “continuous and relentless action” to hold the corresponding force accountable, including preventing “unfit people” from joining and ensuring misconduct is identified and officers and staff are fired if they are “not fit” to serve the service. public.
He labeled the crisis facing the Met Police as “existential,” adding that the force has missed “repeated opportunities to reform over the decades.”
Meanwhile, West Mercia’s PCC John Campion said the devastating problems at the Met could also be present at West Mercia’s police department.
“I am not sure that the examples of misogyny, homophobia and other abhorrent behaviors highlighted in the Casey report do not also exist within the West Mercia Police Department,” he said.
Mr Campion added that he will continue to hold the chief constable to account as he has “no doubt” that the concerns expressed in the Casey report “have damaged public trust and confidence in the police as will affect it completely.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight PCC, Donna Jones called for the Met Police to be split into three or four smaller forces to ensure reforms can be implemented more quickly.
Baroness Casey told the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee a cull was needed as part of a crackdown on rogue cops
Ms. Jones called the Casey report “shocking” and continued: “Discrimination and abuse of power at the Met seem worse than ever.”
She stressed the need to review standard police departments across all forces to remove criminals ‘should they hide in a police uniform’, saying recent cases such as that of serial rapist David Carrick would have been prevented by faster handling of complaints.
Ms Jones claimed that the “lax attitude” of allowing officers and staff to remain in their posts following allegations of misconduct has “made some men in the Met think they are untouchable”, fueling a “rotten culture at (the) core” .
Their comments came as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer clashed in the House of Commons – accusing the government of ‘pure negligence’ towards the police.
Meanwhile, a war of words continued over the use of the phrase “institutional” to describe the failings, with Baroness Casey saying branding it as a political term is a “get out of jail card” for those under scrutiny taken on difficult subjects. .
Asked by Dame Diana Johnson, chair of the Commons Home Affairs Committee, if she was disappointed that Mr Rowley ‘has been unable to accept your findings of institutionalized racism, sexism, misogyny and homophobia’, Baroness Casey said he was ‘splitting hair over words’ ‘, but that he accepted the conclusions in general.
She told MPs: ‘I think the Met Commissioner is unfortunately a bit of a hair-splitting. I think he generally accepts the assessment’s findings.
“I think the way to deal with institutional racism, organizational racism, systemic racism – whichever word one chooses from the Thesaurus – I put in four tests that, in my opinion, cut across all prejudice and discrimination. we found in the review.
“So (what) you can see there is actually bullying and prejudice in general. And within that we have found institutional ones.’