Police begin reviews of 300 claims against officers

Inquiry will be carried out by 50 new investigators to ‘rebuild trust’ in the Met after Sarah Everard murder

THE Metropolitan Police is to review hundreds of sexual misconduct allegations against officers amid public “dismay and disappointment” in the force.

The Met announced yesterday that work is under way to review 300 cases where sexual misconduct and domestic abuse allegations have been made against its officers and staff.

Internal investigators will also “dip sample” 100 cases of officers’ vetting history by reviewing 10 cases each year for the past 10 years.

The inquiry, which will be completed by spring next year, will be carried out by 50 new investigators who were posted to the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) earlier this month. The force said the increased workforce in the DPS, an internal body responsible for investigating complaints against officers, will help to “prevent and identify the abuse of trust by our people”.

The new steps were first pledged in October following the sentencing of Met Police officer Wayne Couzens, who abducted, raped and murdered 33-yearold Sarah Everard.

Following the murder it emerged that Couzens, who worked in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, had been accused of indecent exposure on numerous occasions, but no action was ever taken.

Dame Cressida Dick, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said the incident “brought shame on the Met”, adding: “Speaking frankly as an organisation, we have been rocked. I absolutely know that there are those who feel their trust in us is shaken. I recognise that for some people, a precious bond of trust has been damaged.”

The commissioner later announced a review into culture and standards of behaviour across the Met, which will be led by Baroness Casey of Blackstock, and a specific review of the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command. The force confirmed this week that it will be completed by the middle of next year.

Cmdr Rachel Williams, who is leading the Met’s work to rebuild trust across London, said: “We’ve heard loud and clear the dismay and disappointment in us as a police service, of how people, and women in particular, have questioned whether they can trust us to keep them safe. We depend on the trust of the public. It is fundamental to our core purpose of keeping the public safe.

“We cannot and are not waiting for the findings of ongoing inquiries to begin rebuilding trust.

“We have already taken a number of significant steps to start real change across the organisation and will continue to improve as soon as we identify opportunities to [do so].

“While crucial work to move forward the immediate actions we committed to takes place, our dedication to Londoners is undiminished.”