Diversity Push Let Alleged Rapist Into Met Ranks

Offences by these individuals ranged from drug misuse and racism to violence and affray, underscoring how isolated decisions compounded into systemic vulnerabilities.

The report attributes this to political pressures and target-driven imperatives, where unmet quotas meant forfeited funds to rival forces.

Since Sir Mark Rowley’s September 2022 appointment as Commissioner—following his earlier senior Met tenure from 2011 to 2018—1,500 officers have been dismissed in a professed force cleanse.

Of 730 reviewed vetting cases, 39 required re-examination: 23 cleared, one resigned, another sacked unrelatedly, six pending, and eight flagged for potential dismissal.

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Assistant Commissioner Rachel Williams acknowledged: “In publishing this report, we are being open and transparent about past vetting and recruitment practices that led, in some cases, to unsuitable people joining the Met.

“We have been honest with Londoners on many occasions about previous shortcomings in our professional standards approach. This review is part of our ongoing work to demand the highest standards across the Met so the public can have trust and confidence in our officers.

“We found that some historical practices did not meet the strengthened hiring and vetting standards we have today. We identified these issues ourselves and have fixed them quickly while making sure any risk to the public has been properly and effectively managed.

“It is important to highlight that the Met recruits hundreds of officers and staff every year—the overwhelming majority of exemplary character who are dedicated to protecting the public.”

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has ordered a probe by HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary into the Met’s processes, declaring: “Abandoning vetting checks on officers was a dereliction of the Met’s duty to keep London safe.

“Londoners rightly expect officers to undergo robust checks so that the brightest and best—not criminals—are policing our streets.

“I have asked the Chief Inspector of Constabulary to carry out an inspection as I seek to restore trust in the force’s ability to protect and serve the public.”