Undercover footage prompts Met probe into racist and sexist remarks

An undercover television investigation broadcast this week prompted an immediate probe into conduct at a central London custody suite after footage appeared to show serving Metropolitan Police officers making racist and misogynistic remarks, celebrating the use of force and dismissing the accounts of alleged assault victims. The material, recorded over several months by an undercover reporter working as a designated detention officer at Charing Cross police station, has led to suspensions and a referral to the independent policing watchdog.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley described the behaviour seen in the footage as reprehensible and unacceptable and said the force had acted swiftly. Within 48 hours of being alerted, nine serving officers and one civilian detention staff member were suspended and two further officers were removed from frontline duties, the commissioner said. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has opened an independent investigation into allegations of gross misconduct, including excessive use of force, discriminatory and misogynistic comments, and failures to report or challenge inappropriate behaviour. One constable is also facing a...