Met Police approach to tackling corruption is ‘fundamentally flawed’, watchdog finds

Charlie Herbert

More than 100 Met staff have broken the law in the past two years, the watchdog found

The police watchdog has found that the Metropolitan Police’s approach to tackling corruption within its ranks is “fundamentally flawed” and “not fit for purpose.”

Publishing its findings, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said that the Met had not learned lessons from the failed investigation into the 1987 murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan.

The inspectorate found the Met’s counter-corruption arrangements and procedures are “fundamentally flawed”

As examples, it highlighted that, in the past two years, it had recruited more than 100 people with criminal convictions; hundreds of items were not accounted for – including cash and drugs – and over 2,000 warrant cards are unaccounted for.

In the past two years, the Met has recruited people with criminal connections and more than 100 people who have committed offences.

Some of these recruitment decisions may have been justifiable, but the force failed to properly supervise these people to lessen the risks.

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— HMICFRS (@HMICFRS) March 22, 2022

The Met has previously rejected claims that it suffers from a form of institutional corruption.

Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr said: “It is unacceptable that 35 years after Daniel Morgan’s murder, the Metropolitan Police has not done enough to ensure its failings from that investigation cannot be repeated.

“In fact, we found no evidence that someone, somewhere, had adopted the view that this must never happen again.”

“This will be understandably distressing for Mr Morgan’s family and friends, to whom we send our condolences.

“We found substantial weaknesses in the Met’s approach to tackling police corruption,” Parr continued. “From failing to properly supervise police officers who have previously committed offences, to inadequate vetting procedures, and much more besides, it is clear that the current arrangements are not fit for purpose.”

He added that the force’s “apparent tolerance of these shortcomings suggests a degree of indifference to the risk of corruption.”

Despite the findings, HMICFRS described the Met’s “capability to investigate the most serious corruption allegations” as “particularly impressive.”

They also praised the force’s confidential reporting line and its support for whistleblowers.

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