London’s Metropolitan Police was placed in “special measures” on Tuesday following concerns from an official watchdog about “serious or critical shortcomings” in the force.
The capital’s police force has faced severe criticism over the past year for its management of a several high-profile cases, including the murder of Sarah Everard by Met officer Wayne Couzens, its handling of the Downing Street partygate scandal and lurid messages exchanged at Charing Cross police station.
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said the Met was being monitored through its Engage process, which requires the force to produce a comprehensive improvement plan. It is the first time the Met has been placed under such measures.
“We are now monitoring the Metropolitan Police Service through our Engage process, which provides additional scrutiny and support to help it make improvements,” said HMICFRS.
It added that under Engage, “forces will develop an improvement plan to address the specific cause(s) of concern that has caused them to be placed in the advanced phase of the monitoring process”.
The head of the Met, Dame Cressida Dick, resigned in February after London mayor Sadiq Khan said he lacked confidence in her ability to fix problems within the force. A successor has yet to be appointed.
Khan said the decision to put the Met into special measures had “laid bare the substantial performance failings by the force”.
“A series of appalling scandals have not only exposed deep cultural problems but have damaged the confidence of Londoners in the capital’s police service,” he added.
According to LBC News, Matt Parr, head of HMICFRS, wrote to acting Met commissioner Sir Stephen House on Tuesday to state there were “several examples of high profile incidents” that have had a “chilling effect” on public confidence in the force. Parr also referred to “systemic failure” in how the Met has operated.
Priti Patel, the home secretary, said she supported the HMICFRS action. “It is clear the Metropolitan police service is falling short of these expectations . . . I expect the Met and the London mayor to take immediate action to begin addressing them.”
Patel, who is responsible for appointing the new commissioner, said the process is “well under way” and Dick’s successor “must demonstrate sustained improvements in the Metropolitan police service in order to regain public trust both in London and across the country”.
In a statement, the Met said: “We recognise the cumulative impact of events and problems that the Met is dealing with. We understand the impact this has had on communities and we share their disappointment.
“We are determined to be a police service Londoners can be proud of. We are talking to the Inspectorate about next steps,” it added.
