New plans to root out criminal officers at Met

Bold new tactics will be used to identify those who have no place in the Met.

Bold new tactics will be used to identify those who have no place in the Met
Author: Aileen O'SullivanPublished 7th Oct 2022

A raft of reforms have been announced at the Met police as part of plans to root out any corrupt or abusive officers or staff.

New Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has announced that more detectives and new technology will be used to overhaul how the Met identifies officers and police staff who corrupt the integrity of the Met through misogyny, homophobia, sexism and other abuse.

At the heart of this reform is the new Anti-Corruption and Abuse Command and a new focus on proactively rooting out criminal colleagues.

It will use the same tactics used to target those engaged in corrupt relationships with criminals, or tackle those whose behaviour which corrupts public trust and the Met’s integrity including through abuse such as racism and misogyny.

Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, said:

“In recent years we have seen the corrosive effect corrupt, racist, misogynistic, homophobic, abusive and criminal officers and staff have had on the levels of trust our communities have in the Met. This also undermines our crime fighting efforts and impedes our ability to investigate offences. Both communities and our honest determined majority of officers are rightly angry.

"I make no apology for this ruthlessness in evicting those who undermine our integrity as we seek to reform the Met and give the public the confidence in us they deserve.” - Sir Mark Rowley

“As part of my commitment to renew policing by consent and to bring more trust, less crime and high standards to the Met, I'm investing in extra officers and staff, skills and technology to root out those corrupt or abusive officers or staff.

“We will be proactive and unrelenting in actively seeking out these criminal colleagues. I make no apology for this ruthlessness in evicting those who undermine our integrity as we seek to reform the Met and give the public the confidence in us they deserve.”

'Bold new Tactics'

The new Command will use bold new tactics to identify police officers and staff who have no place in the Met.

The new team of approx. 100 detectives and officers will use a range of tactics including some akin to those usually deployed during investigations into major crime, to identify and investigate those who are predatory, who abuse their position of trust - for their personal, financial or sexual advantage – whether on duty, off duty, in person or online.

The highly skilled officers will be supported by a boosted intelligence function to inform their investigations and a prevention team that will incorporate learning from previous investigations and also direct more drug testing of police officers and staff where appropriate. The team will also deploy covert tactics to identify and respond swiftly to any emerging threats.

The overall investment includes an uplift of 130 police officers and 20 members of police staff across the Directorate of Professional Standards.

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