An investigation into the Metropolitan Police force has uncovered instances of racism, misogyny, harassment and offensive social media messages.
Police watchdog The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched the investigation after evidence emerged in 2018 that an officer in the force had sex with a drunk person while in a police station, prompting the watchdog to appeal for more evidence.
The investigation, dubbed 'Operation Hotton', centred largely on Charing Cross police station, located near Trafalgar Square in London, and resulted in other officers coming forward with complaints about colleagues relating to bullying, drug use, violence towards women, perverting the course of justice and discriminatory language.
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The allegation about the officer having sex in the police station was not proven, according to My London, however the probe exposed a wide range of 'abhorrent behaviour' amid teams formed to tackle crime and disorder in London's West End.
Sal Naseem, the regional director of the IOPC, described the behaviour uncovered as 'disgraceful', Sky News reports, adding that it 'fell well below the standards expected of the officers involved'.
He continued, 'While these officers predominantly worked in teams in Westminster, which have since been disbanded, we know from other recent cases that these issues are not isolated or historic.'
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Naseem also praised the officers who had come forward to help the IOPC investigation, noting that in doing so they risked 'being ostracised, demeaned or told to get another job'.
A total of 14 officers were investigated by the police watchdog, 10 of which were then found to have a case to answer to. Two of the cases related to gross misconduct, with one of these officers being dismissed following a Special Case Hearing, while the other reportedly would have also been dismissed if the officer in question had not already resigned.
Following the information uncovered by the investigation, one officer was sacked and others were disciplined.
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In a statement responding to the misconduct, the Met Police said, 'The conduct of a team of officers at Charing Cross Police Station in central London does not represent the values of the Metropolitan Police Service. We are deeply sorry to Londoners and everyone they have failed with their appalling conduct and acknowledge how this will damage the trust and confidence of many in the Met.'
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Bas Javid said he was 'angry and disappointed' to learn of the misconduct, adding that the Met has 'a lot of work to do' to help ensure bullying and descrimination is eradicated from the Met.
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Emily Brown