Too many times in policing we just see the most appalling behaviours and conduct
Patel blasts ‘culture’ of Met
PRITI Patel has blasted a failure of leadership for fuelling the Charing Cross police station scandal.
The Home Secretary piled pressure on embattled Metropolitan Police chief Dame Cressida Dick after officers based at the station were found to have sent homophobic, racist and sexist messages.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct published texts after nine investigations into the behaviour of Met officers in the now disbanded team between 2016 and 2018.
They were sparked by a claim that an officer had sex with a drunk person at a police station.
Ms Patel told the Home Affairs Select
Committee yesterday: “There are problems with aspects of the culture within the Metropolitan Police.
“We have seen too, too many instances where, in policing, we just see the most appalling behaviours, conduct.
“I also think it shows a failure of leadership in some quarters.”
Ms Patel added that while she had confidence in Dame Cressida, a shakeup was needed. She said: “I’m confident in her, but change is required.
“There are lots of issues where we need to see major, significant improvements – culture, delivery, accountability and protecting the streets. “I am very clear and up front with the Commissioner about a range of failure points and I will continue to be so. The public want answers.” Of 14 officers probed from the Central London station, two were found to have gross misconduct cases to answer, one was sacked and another resigned before he could be dismissed.
Ms Patel said the IOPC uncovered “cultural and attitudinal” behaviours. “We have got to really pull back the layers in terms of not just attitudes, but what is that culture?” she said.
Two inquiries are probing Met culture – one by Baroness Louise Casey and another by Dame Elish Angiolini looking at failures behind the murder of Sarah Everard by Met officer Wayne Couzens.
Ms Patel indicated another may probe look at “very serious matters”. She said: “We’re not seeing one-off incidences.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan held crunch talks with Dame Cressida yesterday, his spokeswoman said.
She added: “The Mayor made clear how angry he is with a return to the bad days of the Met of the 1970s and 80s.”