A damning report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) revealed that there was “pervasive evidence” of bullying and harassment within the Met Police involving officers “predominantly working in teams based at Charing Cross Police Station”. It also detailed how homophobic, racist, misogynist and violent comments made by officers were dismissed as “laddish banter”. After the report came to light, the embattled head of the Met reportedly sent a letter to nearly 43,000 officers and staff telling them the force’s reputation is in peril.
Dick told officers that there had been a “depressing number of shameful cases” in the “last few months” which now threatened “public trust, confidence and consent”, the Telegraph reported. “Our reputation is tarnished and people’s confidence in us has fallen,” she wrote. “This is serious and it is urgent.” Her letter went on: “To lose public consent would be unthinkable. Action is needed now. Enough is enough.” She also called on officers to “do the right thing” by “being professional and calling out all bad behaviour or prejudice” that they see within the force. Dick said that not doing so is a “failure of responsibility”.