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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Rachael Burford

More than 120 Met officers working as normal while under investigation for sexual or domestic abuse offences

More than 120 Metropolitan Police officers under investigation for sexual or domestic abuse are still working as normal while waiting for misconduct proceedings, it was revealed on Friday.

Of the 657 officers accused of sex or domestic violence crimes, 129 (one in five) are still on the beat rather than resigned to desk duties or suspended.

The revelations come as Commissioner Mark Rowley continues attempts to root out unfit officers following the Baroness Casey report, which strongly criticised the misogynism and racism within the force.

The report included recommendations for revamping the Met’s vetting and misconduct procedures.

The Liberal Democrats called for the Home Secretary to require police forces to regularly publish figures on how many officers under investigation for sexual or domestic abuse are still working on normal duties.

Twickenham MP Munira Wilson said: “The fact that it’s business as usual for so many Met officers under investigation for sexual and domestic abuse is horrifying.

“The Casey report was meant to be a watershed moment for rebuilding trust in the Met. It’s deeply disturbing that we’re still seeing the same attitude towards keeping these officers on the frontlines, seven months on.

“This cannot continue. London deserves better.

“There needs to be proper transparency in how the Casey report’s recommendations are being implemented - and the Home Secretary has a duty to ensure that happens.”

Last year the Standard reported that 109 officers under investigation for crime, including 42 for domestic violence offences, were on the beat as normal.

A Met police spokesman said the force was "making greater use of accelerated misconduct hearings to fast track cases where the evidence is irrefutable" to allow them to dismiss officers far more quickly.

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