Scotland Yard standards unit under scrutiny

THE POLICE watchdog is investigating allegations of “serious corruption and malpractice” within Scotland Yard’s own standards unit, a director has said.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is probing claims “potentially conflicted” senior officers in the Metropolitan Police’s Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) interfered with or curtailed investigations or failed to look at alleged wrongdoing altogether.

Jonathan Green, the IOPC’s London director, said the watchdog was also investigating claims of racial discrimination in the DPS, which is tasked with tackling misconduct and corruption in the UK’s largest police force.

So far, gross misconduct notices have been served on three officers, one of whom is also under criminal investigation, while “a number of officers” are also being assessed.

Scotland Yard said it was “fully co-operating” with the IOPC’s investigation into allegations against “a number of MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) personnel”.

Mr Green said: “I can confirm we have begun an investigation into allegations of serious corruption and malpractice within the Directorate of Professional Standards of the Metropolitan police.

“The investigation includes alleged interference in, and curtailment of, investigations by potentially conflicted senior officers.”