The Metropolitan Police faces a new racism storm over WhatsApp messages sent by former officers, as allegations of bigotry continue to haunt the force.
As our Home Affairs Editor Martin Bentham and City Hall Editor Ross Lydall report, a whistleblower and ex-officer has admitted he had been part of a group chat in which both former and serving officers posted messages that included “extremely unpleasant” references to Black politicians, jibes about the recent deadly flooding in Pakistan, repeated use of the ‘P’ words as well as misogynistic exchanges.
BBC Newsnight, which revealed the story, said the material included some of the “very strongest racial slurs” and contained images that were too offensive to show.
Rob Lewis, an ex-officer and current civil servant who set up the group, has been suspended by the Home Office as a result of the disclosures, which today prompted London Mayor Sadiq Khan to call for members to be “quickly identified and held to account”.
As we put in today’s leader article, these latest revelations serve only to underline the deep-seated problems the Met faces, laid bare in the independent report into Charing Cross Station, which uncovered a culture of misogyny, racism, homophobia and bullying. The force has since effectively been placed into special measures due to a variety of failings.
On assuming his role as new Met Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley promised to be “ruthless in rooting out racist and misogynist officers” from the force. This latest report underlines that challenge. Rooting out the bigots in the Met is a prerequisite to rebuilding trust with Londoners.
Elsewhere in the paper, following the murder of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died after being beaten by Iran’s morality police having been detained for incorrectly wearing a hijab, Amy Francombe reports on the amazing ways schoolgirls and students are protesting through viral videos that are being seen around the world.
In a bumper comment section, chaos, counter briefings and infighting – Diary Editor Robbie Griffiths sketches from inside the Tory conference. Business Editor Jonathan Prynn explains how the Bank of England saved Liz Truss’s bacon after the ‘Kami-Kwasi’ budget.
Emma Loffhagen says appropriating dog-whistle slogans is a step too far even for Kanye West. And everybody say Frieze! Arts Editor Nancy Durrant looks forward to London’s finest art fair.
Finally, born and raised in the burbs... Jimi Famurewa pens a love letter to the leafy London suburbs that made him.
