Over 1,200 police officers serving in the Royal Borough of Greenwich have been accused of misconduct over the past 10 years, according to a freedom of information request obtained by Maritime Radio.
It follows the publication of the Casey Report, which found the Metropolitan Police to be riddled with “institutional” racism, misogyny and homophobia.
The official review — conducted over twelve months by former civil servant Louise Casey in the wake of a host of high-profile crimes involving Met officers — warns that the London force has lost the faith of the British public.
The findings come in the wake of serving Met officer Wayne Couzens’ conviction for the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard.
The Royal Borough of Greenwich has responded to the report.
In a joint statement from council leader, Councillor Anthony Okereke and Councillor Ann-Marie Cousins, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement, the councillors said:
“We are appalled yet unsurprised by the findings in the Casey Report, which detail the extent to which the Metropolitan Police has failed Londoners.
“The breaches of trust and failure to properly protect people are shameful but will not come as a surprise to many of our residents, particularly Black peoples and those from ethnic minorities, women, and the LGBTQ+ community. The report reveals what many know and experience already – racism, misogyny and homophobia are widespread and go unpunished.
“In Royal Greenwich, we work closely with our local police force to keep the borough as safe as it can be. The report talks about compassionate and committed police officers serving communities on the frontline. We know and work with these officers every day, those who often go above and beyond the call of duty for Royal Greenwich residents.
“But the Met as an institution is clearly broken, with the most damning findings and evidence from serving or former police officers themselves.
“Policing must be by consent. Without public trust in transparency about police powers, their integrity in exercising those powers and their accountability for doing so, the Met as an institution cannot continue to exist without reforms.
“The commitment by the Commissioner to make dramatic improvements in the culture, attitudes and structures within the Met is essential. Only this, and the implementation of the full recommendations in the report, without exception, will Londoners’ confidence in the police begin to be rebuilt.
“To restore public confidence, the Met must challenge its internal systems, processes and beliefs – this includes accepting the report’s findings that it is institutionally racist, sexist and homophobic. Only then can real change begin.”
