Misconduct cases against Police Officers from 2016 to 2023

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.035367

I note you seek access to the following information:

How many officers are currently being prevented from holding public-facing roles because they are under investigation of

a) sexual misconduct
b) racism

How many misconduct cases were launched against Met police officers in a) 2016 b) 2017 c) 2018 d) 2019 e) 2020 f) 2021 g) 2022 h) 2023.

On the 23 February 2024, we discussed your request for information. I explained that the MPS could provide details of police officers that were the subject of a sexual misconduct or discrimination on the basis of race investigation and are suspended from duty. I further explained that police officers can be the subject of restricted duties and that each police officer will be subject to different restrictions. To identify individual officers that are prohibited from performing a public-facing role would require each officer’s individual restriction documentation to be sourced and read. This research would take a period of time that was either close to, or would exceed, the 18-hour research/cost limit of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act).

I explained that the MPS had extracted the number of police officers that are the subject of a sexual misconduct or discrimination on the basis of race investigation and are suspended or have been placed on restricted duties. This information could be considered for release to you. You confirmed that this disclosure would satisfy this part of your request for information.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

As of the 16 February 2023, there were:

a. 131 police officers suspended from duty in connection with an allegation of sexual misconduct.

b. 1 police officer suspended from duty in connection with an allegation of discrimination on the basis of race.

c. 174 police officers placed on restricted duties in connection with an allegation of sexual misconduct.

d. 47 police officers placed on restricted duties in connection with an allegation of discrimination on the basis of race.

DUTY TO ADVISE AND ASSIST
Under Section 16 of the Act, there is a duty to advise and assist those that have made, or intend to make, a request for information. In accordance with this duty, I can confirm that the MPS publishes information about various types of crime on its website. I have provided a link to this information below.

MPS Website: Stats and Data

It may also assist you to note that the MPS proactively publishes all disclosures made in response to requests made under Act on its Publication Scheme. I have provided a link to this section of the MPS website below.

MPS Publication Scheme

The MPS Publication Scheme can be searched using keywords and may accordingly hold other information that is of interest to you.

Maintaining Public Trust in the MPS
Securing and maintaining the trust of the community is integral to the principle of policing by consent and to continue to do so, the MPS recognises that its staff must act with professionalism and integrity. The MPS treats each occasion when an allegation is made about the conduct of its staff extremely seriously and will fully investigate each incident to determine whether the conduct of that member of staff has breached the standards of professional behaviour. Where the conduct of staff is proven to have fallen below the standards of behaviour expected, the MPS will take robust action to ensure that its staff are held to account and that lessons are learnt from each case. Any instance where the conduct of our staff is alleged to have fallen below the standards of behaviour expected is treated extremely seriously by the MPS.