Dame Cressida Dick has told Metropolitan Police officers “enough is enough” as she admitted its reputation has been tarnished by “poor conduct and nasty and inappropriate behaviour”.
A damning report by the IOPC police watchdog on Tuesday revealed shocking messages exchanged between officers primarily at Charing Cross police station in which they joked about rape and hitting their partners.
Amid the fallout from the controversy, the Sunday Telegraph revealed the embattled Scotland Yard chief has sent a letter to 43,000 officers and staff telling them the force’s reputation has been damaged by repeated “poor conduct and nasty and inappropriate behaviour”.
She said prejudice, racism, homophobia and sexism will not be tolerated, adding: “If this is you I have a message: the Met does not want you. Leave now."
Dame Cressida admitted that the force’s reputation has been damaged and public confidence has fallen.
She said: “This is serious and it is urgent. To lose public consent would be unthinkable. Action is needed now. Enough is enough.”
The IOPC gave the Met 15 recommendations to totally overhaul its culture and process after the disturbing messages came to light, including one in which a male officer told a female officer: “I would happily rape you.”
Dame Louise Casey has been commissioned to conduct a review of the Met’s processes after the horrific murder of Sarah Everard, 33, by serving police officer Wayne Couzens in March last year.
A non-statutory public inquiry into whether police officials missed red flags about Couzens before the murder is also being led by Dame Elish Angiolini QC.
He is believed to have urged her to come up with a plan “to drive out the culture of racism, homophobia, bullying and misogyny” in its ranks.
