Revealed: Sharp increase in Met police fired over assaults

Sackings: Scotland Yard
Kirsty O'Connor/PA
Justin Davenport3 October 2017
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The number of police officers being sacked for misconduct in London is on the rise, figures show today.

A total of 64 Met officers were sacked for misconduct in the financial year 2016-17, compared with 58 the previous year and 55 in 2014-15.

Conservative London Assembly member Susan Hall, who researched the figures, said she welcomed the rise if it meant the force was being more vigilant of wrongdoing in the ranks.

The most common reason given for misconduct cases was “disreputable conduct” — with 50 cases last year compared with 33 in 2014-15.

Other reasons for dismissal included dishonesty, neglect or failure of duty and use of force.

Insiders say the number of officers engaged in serious corruption involving criminality such as drug-dealing and perjury is falling but there are more cases of officers being involved in dishonesty, assault or misusing police data.

In August this year former Flying Squad officer David Gray was sacked for discreditable conduct after he was convicted of assault. The police constable spat at a member of the public in a road rage incident last year.

In the same month a police constable was sacked after turning up to work high on cannabis. Ms Hall, a member of the London Assembly police and crime committee, said: “Our police officers do an excellent job in often difficult, dangerous and demanding circumstances and we are extremely grateful for their work.

“Unfortunately, as in any large organisation, there will always be some disciplinary issues. It is important the Met maintains the highest possible standards among its officers because public confidence is vital to the strength of the force.

“While these new figures are worthy of further discussion, we should keep an open mind as to their positive or negative implications. Higher figures may mean the force is showing greater vigilance, which would be welcomed.”

A Met spokeswoman emphasised that the number of officers sacked was a tiny proportion of the force.

In a statement, the Met said: “Securing and maintaining the trust of the community is integral to the principle of policing by consent ... the Met treats each occasion that an allegation is made about the conduct of its staff extremely seriously and will fully investigate each incident.

“Where the conduct of staff is proven to have fallen below the standards of behaviour expected, the Met will take robust action to ensure that its staff are appropriately disciplined and that lessons are learnt from each case.”

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