Commenting on the reports that Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has placed the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) 'in special measures', member of the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee Caroline Russell AM says:
“Extra HMICFRS scrutiny is welcome, but the Met’s rotten culture must be utterly transformed, they must be on the front foot, communicating clearly, listening and acting on difficult feedback, in order to rebuild trust with all of London’s communities.
“To make the Met fit for policing a proudly diverse and socially progressive city like London there must be a root and branch review of police culture and the use of intrusive and harmful policing tactics, especially when policing Black and young people.
“This goes beyond the need to simply change the Commissioner. Leading this urgent change will need an open conversation about the reform required with officers, Met leadership, and politicians, and vitally, this must be led by Londoners.”
Notes to editors
Caroline is available for interview.
Met police placed in special measures due to litany of new ‘systemic’ failings, June 2022: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jun/28/met-police-placed-special-measures-series-scandals
HMICFRS Police forces in Engage: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/about-us/what-we-do/our-approach-to-monitoring-forces/police-forces-in-engage/