Lalrp.org: 
Casey mentioned she had discovered “institutional racism, sexism and homophobia” within the Met. A “tradition of denial” has prevented the pressure of greater than 43,000 officers and employees from altering its methods, she wrote.
“The proof is damning,” London Mayor Sadiq Khan mentioned in an announcement.
The report set off a surprising, however maybe not shocking, second of reckoning in Britain, the place the front pages of newspapers on Tuesday slammed a “BROKEN AND ROTTEN” police pressure, declaring the report a “damning verdict.”
Lengthy-standing issues in regards to the Met have been worsened this yr when it was revealed in January {that a} then-serving officer had abused his place to lure after which rape ladies over the course of almost 20 years.
The report mentioned that the Met wants “an entire overhaul and a brand new strategy to revive public belief and confidence and earn again consent from ladies, Black communities and the remainder of London.”
Black residents of town have been notably “over-policed,” the report discovered. “They’re extra more likely to be stopped and searched, handcuffed, batoned and Tasered, are overrepresented in lots of critical crimes, and when they’re victims of crime, they’re much less glad with the service they obtain than different Londoners.”
Greater than 80 p.c of Met officers are White, 71 p.c are male and most don’t dwell inside London, in response to the report. “As such, the Met doesn’t appear to be nearly all of Londoners.”
The Met’s cultural points have impacted not solely Londoners however officers and employees throughout the pressure, the report discovered. “A bullying tradition underpins all this,” the report mentioned.
Greater than 20 p.c of Met workers reported being bullied; the speed was increased for LGBTQ officers and employees, 30 p.c of whom reported being bullied. The report mentioned that “racist, misogynist, homophobic and different discriminatory acts are tolerated, ignored, or dismissed as ‘banter.’”
Among the many incidents cited within the report have been a Muslim officer who discovered bacon shoved into his boots, a Sikh officer whose turban was put right into a shoe field as a joke and a hazing ritual wherein new feminine officers have been compelled to eat cheesecakes till they vomited.
Circumstances have been notably harsh in a specialised firearms unit, MO19, which feminine officers mentioned was generally known as “a males’s division.” A poster hung in an MO19 widespread space confirmed “feminine firearms officers carrying mops, irons and kettles as an alternative of weapons.”
In response to the report, the top of the Met, Commissioner Mark Rowley, said the assessment “sparks emotions of disgrace and anger nevertheless it additionally will increase our resolve,” including that “it have to be a catalyst for police reform.” However, he mentioned, “this report must result in significant change. If it solely results in pillory and blame of the distinctive majority of officers then solely criminals will profit.”
Rowley did, nonetheless, take situation with Casey’s assertion that she had “discovered institutional racism, misogyny and homophobia within the Met.” Whereas he mentioned he accepted her findings that racism and misogyny have permeated the pressure, Rowley told native media that the time period “institutional” was too political.
Suella Braverman, Britain’s residence secretary — a place that features oversight of policing — mentioned in remarks in parliament that “it’s clear that there have been failings throughout the Met,” including that reforms have been wanted “so that each citizen in London has whole confidence in those that put on the badge.”
Casey really useful that every one officers carrying firearms must be revetted, together with these within the MO19 unit and the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Safety unit, the latter of which she mentioned must be disbanded and reassembled.
To make sure that correct reforms have been being made, Casey referred to as for extra opinions in two and 5 years. If progress just isn’t made, she mentioned, “extra radical” choices might embrace breaking apart the Met into nationwide, specialist and metropolis divisions.
Rowley mentioned in a letter to Casey that the Met accepts the report’s findings and would “take the time to fastidiously take into account your suggestions.”
Khan, the mayor, mentioned the report “merely have to be a turning level and I count on all of the suggestions to be applied rapidly and in full.”
