Baroness Casey’s review of the Metropolitan Police culture is without precedent in its unswerving criticism of a corrupt, institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic police force. We welcome her “no holds barred” approach and determination to go beyond the usual “learning the lessons” we have repeatedly seen with reports and reviews of policing over the years which have changed nothing. We note however that this is an internal review and that more could still emerge if an inquiry with statutory powers were to be established that could hear voices of those that have been failed by the Met.
Baroness Casey confirms a culture which not only tolerates but fosters many of the worst forms of criminal abuse from within its ranks and reveals shocking treatment of forensic evidence gathering in sexual violence investigations. As an organisation that works with victims of male violence and police abuse, the rats’ nest that has been laid to bare provides an explanation for the repeated dreadful stories we hear from the many women who have contacted us. This is not a problem confined to the Metropolitan Police but is prevalent in police forces across the country. It is utterly shameful that women and children have been failed as the report highlights.
Harriet Wistrich Director of Centre for Women’s Justice said, in response to Baroness Casey’s calls for a “complete overhaul” of the Met and a “new approach to restore public trust and confidence”,
“We do not have policing by consent. The only way forward to restore the rule of law is to start re-imagining how policing can serve all citizens. A fundamental problem with policing is the culture of loyalty which militates against self-criticism, against whistle-blowing and allows collusion and silence. Any such process of fundamental reform must involve hearing the voices of survivors and others at the hard edge of the policing and those that support them.
“All the recommendations of the Casey review must be accepted and effectively implemented. Those in leadership within the Met must be held accountable for their implementation. Those politicians responsible for the Met and policing also need to be accountable. There must be regular reviews of the process of implementation to ensure that this work is effective and continuing.
“There needs to be real accountability built into the system for those failing to address the problems and there must be adequate powers to ensure recommendations are followed. Until those issues are addressed, in reality nothing will change.
“We also repeat our call for the Angiolini inquiry to be given statutory powers. Whilst the Casey review is fundamentally damning we may still not know the true extent. How can we know whether the Met have been fully open and provided all relevant evidence and where there has not been a process for whistle-blowers to come forward without fear. The Casey review for all its unstinting critique of the Met will necessarily have gaps in the absence of such powers.”