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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Tom Pettifor

New Met Police chief admits black and Asian officers have faced 'systematic bias'

Hundreds of Met Police officers deserve to be sacked, the force’s commissioner has said.

Sir Mark Rowley spoke out after an interim report found 1,263 officers still serving despite multiple misconduct complaints against them.

Author Baroness Louise Casey said the Met’s misconduct system is "not fit for purpose".

She said: "I also think of not is that repeated misconduct offences and indeed patterns of unacceptable behaviour are not dealt with hence you will see in the case studies some hair raising examples of just how much people can do and yet they remain serving officers

"This has to be a line in the sand moment and I think this is a really significant moment for the Metropolitan Police.

"As we go forward I want this organisation to take what we're saying seriously, to absorb it and not deny it and not be defensive about it."

Only 13 of 1,809 officers and staff with more than one case against them had been sacked since 2013, her dossier revealed.

Sarah Everard was killed by serving officer Wayne Couzens (PA)

One still-serving officer was accused of 11 separate offences including three assaults and sexual assault. The most complaints against a single officer was 19.

She also reported instances of racism and misogyny.

Sir Mark told Baroness Casey that patterns of discrimination in the Met amounted to a “systemic bias”.

In a letter in reply he apologised for the force's failings, saying: "The evidence is clear: the disproportionate way in which you have showed us black and Asian officers and staff have been treated shows patterns of unacceptable discrimination that clearly amount to systemic bias.

"You uncover painful experiences from those within our ranks who have suffered discrimination and hate from colleagues, only to have their hurt compounded by a weak response from the organisation. This cannot continue.

"I am sorry to those we have let down: both the public and our honest and dedicated officers.

"The public deserves a better Met, and so do our good people who strive every day to make a positive difference to Londoners."

The full report is due next year.

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