Change to complaints system needed to allow ‘faster removal of unfit officers’, says report

A new 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 Service (MPS) values.

Committee chair Susan Hall said the MPS has been “beset by a series of scandals” and too many of these scandals “involve unacceptable behaviour” committed by serving officers, including the murder of Sarah Everard, the strip-search of Child Q, and officers caught exchanging highly offensive messages.

“Londoners will be distressed that this behaviour has been allowed to continue, as will the thousands of dedicated officers in the force,” she added.

Ms Hall said that 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.

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 highlight areas where it says “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 is calling on the mayor to coordinate with relevant agencies to push for a change in the rules;
• There is a highly fraught relationship between MPS officers and the IOPC. Accusations and disagreements between both parties risk further eroding trust in both the MPS and the conduct and complaints system:
• The MPS 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; and
• Senior MPS 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.

Ms Hall 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.”