A review by an independent panel of London’s Metropolitan Police has produced a number of damning findings including institutional racism, misogyny and homophobia.
The final 363-page report, which was released on Tuesday, found “systemic and fundamental problems” in the force which they say required “radical reform.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told the BBC that it was essential to “regain people’s trust.”
While London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who initiated the review, called for the recommendations put forward by the report to be implemented quickly.
The review conducted by Baroness Louise Casey, began in February 2022 was completed in March 2023 and it identified worrying trends present in the force.
The review was commissioned by then-police chief Cressida Dick in 2021, after the conviction and sentencing of Met police officer Wayne Couzens, for the rape and murder of Sarah Everard.
Other shocking cases have emerged since Everard’s murder.
A former police officer David Carrick was also given a life sentence last month for dozens of rapes and sexual assaults dating back to 2002.
Carrick served in the same armed unit as Couzens, responsible for protecting MPs and foreign diplomats.
The Met said it “welcomed a report into its culture and standards and has called for it to be a catalyst for police reform.”
Met Commissioner Mark Rowley who is Britain’s most senior police officer told reporters: “We have let people down and I repeat the apology I gave in my first weeks to Londoners and our own people in the Met. I am sorry.”
Rowley also added that the report needed to “lead to meaningful change” and stressed, “if it only leads to pillory and blame of the exceptional majority of officers then only criminals will benefit.”
