In a significant development, the largest police department in Britain, the Metropolitan Police, has disclosed that it has suspended or placed on restricted duties 1,061 of its officers as part of a sweeping crackdown on corruption and illegality within the force.
Out of a workforce comprising 34,000 officers, 201 are currently under suspension, while an additional 860 have been assigned to restricted duties. This proportion has been likened by Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Cundy, who is overseeing the effort to reform the police force, to that of a small police department.
Furthermore, 450 officers are under investigation in connection with allegations of sexual or domestic violence offenses dating back to the past.
During a press conference, Cundy outlined the extent of the ongoing effort to address the issue, which includes conducting 30 misconduct and 30 gross misconduct hearings each month. This approach potentially entails the dismissal of up to 60 officers every month. However, Cundy acknowledged that even with these measures in place, it would take "one, two, or more years to root out those who are corrupt."
Cundy emphasized the commitment to identifying individuals unfit for policing and ensuring that relevant regulations and laws are upheld. He acknowledged that as the investigative efforts intensify, more challenging cases and stories are likely to come to light.
Over the past year, the number of officers dismissed increased by 66% to reach a total of 100, while suspensions of officers surged by nearly 300%. Additionally, more than 275 officers faced gross misconduct hearings, many related to allegations of violence against women and girls.
This crackdown is part of a comprehensive reform initiated by Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley, who assumed the role in the summer of 2022.
The actions are being taken in the wake of a high-profile case in which former officer David Carrick received a minimum 30-year prison sentence for multiple rapes and former officer Wayne Couzens received a "whole life" term for the rape and murder of a woman.
A separate internal report, released on Tuesday, examined the Met's Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection command, where both Carrick and Couzens served. The report calls for a "complete reset in leadership, staffing, training, culture, and standards" within this unit.
It identifies substantial deficiencies in conduct, vetting, and complaint procedures, along with a lack of supervision, unsustainable work practices, and a gender imbalance that fostered a "boy's club" environment and deterred qualified candidates from pursuing careers in armed units.
Notably, among the UK's 160,000 police officers, only those in Northern Ireland and specialized firearms units are armed. Couzens, the former officer responsible for the abduction, rape, and murder of Sarah Everard, was on duty as part of the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection command at the time of the heinous crime.
