Accelerated misconduct hearings for Charing Cross officers

10 officers who were based at Charing Cross police station in central London will face accelerated misconduct hearings, following a TV investigation which claimed to show racism and misogyny.

The footage, gathered undercover for a BBC Panorama documentary, appears to show some officers at Charing Cross police station call for immigrants to be shot and brag about using violence against suspects.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had identified sufficient evidence to show "clear breaches of police standards of professional behaviour".

The 10 officers consist of eight serving Met officers (three police sergeants and five police constables), a former Met Police constable and a Gloucestershire Police constable who moved away from the Met.

One of the officers, a police constable, remains under criminal investigation for perverting the course of justice.

Investigations into a Met detention officer are ongoing, the IOPC said.

The police watchdog said it had asked the BBC to send any relevant untransmitted material.

The misconduct hearings are likely to be held in the coming weeks, the watchdog said.

IOPC director general Rachel Watson said: "We were appalled by some of the behaviour and conduct displayed by a group of Met officers based at Charing Cross in the documentary.

"The public would rightly expect swift action being taken to remove officers who have no place in policing and a large team of investigators from across the country have been working at pace to analyse the evidence.

"As a result, we have this week notified the Met and Gloucestershire Police of our view that there is sufficient evidence to merit bringing accelerated gross misconduct proceedings for 10 officers.

"This sends a clear message that the type of behaviour seen in the documentary is taken extremely seriously and immediate action will be taken to enable the forces to dismiss officers at the earliest opportunity, where appropriate."

Responding to the decision, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: "I have been very clear from the outset that I wanted to see all those responsible for this appalling behaviour facing gross misconduct hearings at the earliest opportunity. They have no place in the Met.

"After watching Panorama last week and seeing the behaviour for myself, I requested the early consideration of accelerated misconduct hearings, and I welcome the IOPC's decision to pursue this course of action.

"We have worked together to deliver this uncompromising approach at greater speed than ever before and the hearings will take place by the end of the month.

"Londoners would expect nothing less and for those found responsible to be exited from the Met and off the payroll as soon as possible.

"Within 48 hours of the allegations being received from Panorama, nine officers and one staff member had been suspended, with two more officers removed from frontline duties. I am extremely grateful for the swift enquiries undertaken by the IOPC since the investigation was referred to them."

“We have since disbanded the custody team at Charing Cross, made changes to local leadership and have begun wider work to identify any other areas of concern in detention teams across the Met. More action will follow.

“This comes in the context of the biggest corruption clear-out in British policing history, which has seen more than 1,400 officers and staff leave the Met in the last three years.

“Much more work will be required to redress the systemic, cultural, leadership and regulatory failings that have allowed misogyny, racism, anti-Muslim hate and a lack of public service ethos to put down deep roots.

“While there are no quick fixes, I will be relentless in working with the good majority of our people to bring this about.”

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