The police watchdog is investigating allegations of "serious corruption and malpractice" within Scotland Yard's own standards unit, a director has revealed.
The probe was launched after whistle blowers raised concerns that senior officers in the Metropolitan Police’s Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) – the department tasked with rooting out misconduct – were interfering with investigations and turning a blind-eye to wrongdoing.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it was also investigating claims of racism in the DPS.
So far, gross misconduct notices have been served on three officers, one of who is also under criminal investigation. A “number” of other officers are also being assessed.
Jonathan Green, the IOPC's London director, said: "I can confirm we have begun an investigation into allegations of serious corruption and malpractice within the Directorate of Professional Standards of the Metropolitan police.
"The investigation includes alleged interference in, and curtailment of, investigations by potentially conflicted senior officers, failure to investigate allegations of wrongdoing, systemic removal of the restrictions of officers under investigation and racial discrimination.
"As part of this investigation three officers have been served with gross misconduct notices and one of those officers is also under criminal investigation. Assessments on the status of a number of other officers remains ongoing."
According to The Sunday Times, three whistle blowers from the force approached the IOPC to allege members of the DPS were shielding officers from a range of allegations.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "The Metropolitan Police Service has referred allegations regarding the conduct of a number of MPS personnel to the IOPC which is conducting an independent investigation.
"The MPS is fully co-operating with the IOPC investigation."
