The role of the police is to enforce the law and maintain public order. In order that they may do this, officers wield enormous power. Not only are they able to arrest people, depriving them of liberty; they can access all kinds of information about us, enter our property, take away our things. They also set the terms on which political demonstrations and other gatherings can go ahead. Like all powers, these ones can be abused by corrupt groups and individuals. A report from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services points to a deeply ingrained unwillingness on the part of the Metropolitan police to tackle the corruption that it knows exists in its ranks.
It is thanks to the family of Daniel Morgan, who was murdered 35 years ago in a London car park, that the Met and its political bosses are, once again, being forced to reckon with this reality. Public trust in the police has rarely been lower following last year’s horrific abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard. Last week’s reports of a black teenage girl strip-searched at school were shocking but not really surprising in the context of a stream of incidents in which officers have failed members of the public whom they are meant to serve.
Last month, the Independent Office for Police Conduct revealed that a bullying culture centred on Charing Cross police station had left women and ethnic minority officers fearful and isolated. Now this latest report, focused on corruption, echoes earlier findings with regard to weak leadership as well as flawed processes and culture. To say that whoever replaces Dame Cressida Dick will have their work cut out is an understatement. The Met police needs a complete overhaul, with robust oversight from London’s mayor and the Home Office as well as internal changes.
The inspectors rejected last year’s finding by an independent panel that the failed investigation of Daniel Morgan’s murder pointed to “institutional corruption”. Noting that the panel defined this to mean that the Met had prioritised reputation management over everything else, including cooperation with the panel, they called for the official police definition of corruption to be revised. But terminology and motivations aside, it is profoundly unnerving to learn that 100 recent recruits with criminal convictions or connections have not been properly supervised; that vetting processes of staff in highly sensitive posts are weak; and that 2,000 warrant cards are missing.
Policing is a hard job, many officers do it well, and there is no satisfaction in saying that public confidence in the Met has collapsed. If it is to be rebuilt, a new leadership team must put an end to the “arrogant, secretive and lethargic” behaviour noted by inspectors. Londoners are entitled to a better service from their police force.
• The image on this article was amended on 25 March 2022 to replace it with a photo more appropriate to the story.
