Baroness Casey report into Met Police recommends “borough based approach” in London policing

Existing structures “do not provide a clear way for local authorities and their residents to hold the Met to account” for how they police and tackle crime on a borough basis, Baroness Casey has said in her independent review of the Metropolitan Police Service.

The report recommends a new borough-based approach to deliver “strong and consistent community engagement”.

The Met Police appointed Baroness Casey to lead an independent review of its culture and standards of behaviour, after recognising the “grave levels of public concern” after the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving Met officer.

The review found "institutional racism, misogyny and homophobia" within the Met. In a column published by The Times, Baroness Casey wrote: "I am genuinely sorry to say, because I am fundamentally pro-policing, that this is a deeply disturbing picture."

The report set out eight key conclusions:

1. There are systemic and fundamental problems in how the Met is run.
2. The Met has not managed the integrity of its own police service.
3. The Met’s new leadership represent a welcome change of tone and approach. However, deep seated cultures need to be tackled in order for change to be sustained.
4. Londoners have been put last.
5. London’s women and children have been left even further behind.
6. The Met lacks accountability and transparency.
7. Discrimination is tolerated, not dealt with and has become baked into the system.
8. The Met is in danger of losing its way – consent is broken.

On the subject of local accountability, Baroness Casey said: "The Met’s engagement with the public has been stripped right back through the loss of neighbourhood policing. […] The Met has become disconnected from Londoners. Their consent can no longer be assumed. Londoners’ voices are missing from London policing."

She recommended that a new “borough-based approach” should be put in place, “building on the positive introduction of new dedicated Borough Superintendents, to ensure structures allow for greater transparency and challenge, including democratic representatives through local authorities, providing the ability to access high quality data and review case handling, and deliver strong and consistent community engagement”.

The report also found that investment by London boroughs in crime prevention had fallen in the last decade.

The report highlights that London boroughs had to reduce their spending on community safety by 42% between 2010 and 2016. It said: "To date, this has not fully recovered. London boroughs’ spending on crime reduction within this fell even more dramatically – by 58%”.

According to the report, the partnership between London boroughs and the Met in their approach to public safety has been “seriously eroded, and the public has lost out".

Responding to the report, Cllr Jas Athwal, London Councils Executive Member for Community Safety and Violence Against Women and Girls said: “The Casey Report is bleak, and it sets out in black and white the Metropolitan Police Service's failings that unfortunately will resonate with too many Londoners' experiences of the Met. It highlights the concerning experiences of women, young people and people from ethnic minorities in particular.

"A city as diverse as London needs a police force which reflects the communities it serves, and a police service which all Londoners feel they will be treated fairly by, irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, religion, sexuality or any other characteristic which is part of your identity."

Cllr Athwal added: “The swift and decisive action that Sir Mark Rowley has taken to cut out the rot within the service since he took office in the autumn must continue at pace. Local borough leaders met Sir Mark yesterday to discuss the impact of the Casey Report on the Metropolitan Police’s Turnaround Plan.

"London leaders have a unique insight into the range of issues facing local communities, and we stand ready to work with the Met as it implements the significant changes needed to rebuild trust and confidence amongst London’s diverse communities.”

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The evidence is damning. Baroness Casey has found institutional racism, misogyny and homophobia, which I accept. She has described the Met as defensive, resistant to change and unwilling to engage with communities.    

“As Mayor, I’ve already acted to put the Met on a path of far-reaching systematic and cultural reform, with the appointment of a new Commissioner and leadership team who acknowledge the scale of the problems and are committed to change. But clearly much more needs to be done, and fast.

“I want to assure Londoners that I’ll be unflinching in my resolve to support and hold the new Commissioner to account as he works to overhaul the force. The Met has many committed, professional police officers and staff who want to be part of this change.”

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the force welcomed the report into its culture and standards and called for it to be a “catalyst for police reform”.

In a letter from Sir Mark to Baroness Casey, he wrote: “We accept the report’s findings and will, as you have requested, take the time to carefully consider your recommendations. We have an ambitious Turnaround Plan that is evolving and sets out how we will deliver on our commitment for More Trust, Less Crime and High Standards.

“Policing must be the very best in our robust systems and leadership to ensure we are anti-racist, anti-misogynist and anti-homophobic, indeed, we must be relentlessly anti-discrimination of all kinds. We have failed in that respect."

Sir Mark continued: “Your report marks the start of a new phase for the Met, one that is relentlessly focused on delivering the reform we have collectively identified is needed. It will take time, and there will be periods of further pain as we confront the challenges we face, but ultimately with the drive and determination of the dedicated, honest, often heroic majority, working with London’s communities who we will put first in all that we do, I am confident we will succeed.”

Speaking in the House of Commons today, the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, said the force faces a "long road to recovery". She added: "I will ensure that the Metropolitan Police have all the support from central government they need to deliver on Sir Mark's pledge of more trust, less crime and high standards".

Lottie Winson