The UK’s largest crime-fighting force, London’s Metropolitan Police, has been found to be institutionally racist, sexist and homophobic by a government-commissioned review. The report, written by Louise Casey, was prompted by the kidnap, rape and murder of a London woman by serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens in 2019. Another officer, David Carrick, was also recently jailed for life for dozens of rapes and sexual assaults dating back two decades. Casey found that these crimes were perpetrated in a pervasive culture of “deep-seated homophobia” and predatory behaviour, with female officers and staff routinely facing sexism and misogyny. The report warns that the force may still be employing rapists and murderers.
Casey’s findings come nearly 25 years after the Macpherson Report, which investigated Met failures following the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence in 1993. The Macpherson Report also found the force was institutionally racist and recommended dozens of reforms. Casey discovered that internal discrimination is “tolerated”, with complaints “likely to be turned against Black, Asian and ethnic minority officers”. She made 16 recommendations for a “complete overhaul” of the Met, including addressing “systemic and fundamental problems” such as “inadequate management”.
The review also identified that Met teams formed to tackle domestic abuse cases were understaffed, overworked and inexperienced. The force’s investigations have relied on “over-stuffed, dilapidated or broken fridges and freezers” to store forensic evidence. A lunchbox was found in the same fridge as forensic samples in rape cases, and some appliances were so full they were strapped shut. One fridge broke down, meaning the evidence inside could no longer be used and cases were dropped.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and bereaved families have called for “top to bottom” reform of the force. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has said he expects all of Casey’s recommendations to be fully implemented quickly. However, Casey warned that failure to reform could mean the force is dismantled.
