Britain's biggest police force failed to sack two-thirds of officers and staff found to have been racist towards colleagues.
The revelation came as the Metropolitan Police is engulfed in a storm over the strip search of “Child Q” – an innocent 15-year-old black schoolgirl.
And the force’s commissioner Dame Cressida Dick is standing down next weekend after a series of other scandals.
Figures show sackings for just four of 76 staff found to have been racist from 2017 to 2021. There were 300 complaints in that time.
Three resigned or retired, around a dozen cases are believed to be ongoing – and more than 50 were let off with lesser sanctions such as warnings.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan ’s spokesman said the force has “serious cultural issues” and trust in the Met “is at its lowest”. The statistics came in a Freedom of Information request by the Open Democracy website.
Kat Hobbs, of police monitor Netpol, said: “With forces reluctant to dismiss racists who target colleagues, it is hardly surprising complaints about police racism by the public fail so often.”
Child Q was searched for drugs by two female officers at school in Hackney, East London. It was in 2020 but details emerged last month – leading to a street protest.
In a “traumatic” and “disproportionate” search, she was asked to remove a sanitary towel, a Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review found.
It concluded the search was unjustified and racism “was likely an influencing factor”. No drugs were found. Child Q is taking action against the force and her school, while Scotland Yard admits the actions were “regrettable” and “should never have happened”. The officers involved have not been sacked.
The incident came a month after racist, homophobic and misogynistic messages exchanged by officers were uncovered.
The statistics angered the mum of murdered sisters whose bodies were photographed and shared by officers in North West London.
Mina Smallman said: “What happened to us exposed a toxic culture. Met disciplinaries happen behind closed doors. I want it exposed.”
The Met said: “We expect standards to be upheld by all staff. Action is taken where appropriate.”
After Dame Cressida’s last day next Sunday, deputy Sir Steve House will act as a stand-in until a replacement is appointed in the summer.
