The Mayor should ask the Home Secretary to review guidance to
allow for the immediate removal of police officers who are proven
unfit for the role, including those who have been convicted of
criminal offences.
A report from the London Assembly Police and Crime
Committee is calling on the Mayor to push for a change
in the rules, to allow for the faster removal of officers clearly
displaying behaviours at odds with Metropolitan Police values.
As police officers work as servants of The Crown, rather than
being employed directly by the force, they are not subject to
normal employment rules and cannot be immediately dismissed –
even where a serious offence has been committed.
The Met has been rocked by a series of recent scandals including
the murder of Sarah Everard, the strip-search of Child Q, and
officers caught exchanging highly offensive messages.
In response to the recent turmoil, the Police and Crime Committee
launched an investigation into the Independent Office for Police
Conduct (IOPC) and how police complaints are handled.
The Committee’s findings are published today,
highlighting areas where further attention is required to
increase confidence in the complaints and conduct system. It
found that:
- Statutory guidance does not allow for the swift removal of
officers who have committed serious misconduct, including those
convicted of crimes. The Committee calls on the Mayor to
coordinate with relevant agencies to push for a change in the
rules.
- There is a highly fraught relationship between Met officers
and the IOPC. Accusations and disagreements between both parties
risk further eroding trust in both the Met and the conduct and
complaints system.
- The Met still does not know how to effectively respond to the
increased prevalence of footage of policing incidents being
shared on social media. It should develop a new communications
strategy that will enable it to respond more proactively.
- Senior Met officers do not feel confident that they can
comment publicly on policing incidents subject to ongoing
investigation by the IOPC. The Committee recommends that relevant
media guidance issued by the IOPC is reviewed.
Chairman of the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee,
AM, said:
“The Metropolitan Police and its thousands of dedicated
officers do vital work to keep Londoners safe. But too many
disturbing scandals involving the force have eroded trust and
confidence in the police among Londoners and the Mayor must act
to address this.
“The Committee is concerned that the police complaints system
is further damaging the public’s perception of the police and
Baroness Louise Casey’s recent review supports this.
“Our investigation found it to be a frustratingly slow and
complicated system of lengthy investigations causing real pain
for victims, complainants and officers.
“The highly fraught relationship between Met officers and the
IOPC is unlikely to be helping matters and we hope that they will
work collaboratively in implementing the report
recommendations.
“The thousands of dedicated officers in the force are
entitled to a clear, transparent and effective conduct and
complaints system that delivers for Londoners. The Mayor and the
Government should take forward our recommendations as soon as
possible.”
Notes for editors:
- The embargoed report is attached.
