London Met Police Officers Under Investigation for Racist, Violent Misconduct

Police officers at London's Charing Cross police station were secretly filmed making racist, misogynistic, and violent remarks, including calls to shoot immigrants and derogatory comments about Muslims and women. The undercover footage, gathered for a BBC Panorama documentary, revealed officers bragging about excessive use of force, including breaking detainees' fingers and stamping on legs, as well as offering to falsify witness statements. Some officers expressed support for far-right activist Tommy Robinson, exacerbating concerns about extremist sympathies within the force. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating 11 individuals, including nine serving officers, one former officer, and one civilian detention officer, with one officer facing a criminal probe for perverting the course of justice. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley condemned the behavior as "reprehensible" and "disgraceful," promising swift disciplinary action and apologizing to the public for the erosion of trust. This scandal follows previous controversies at Charing Cross station that led to the ousting of former commissioner Dame Cressida Dick, highlighting ongoing challenges within the Metropolitan Police regarding misconduct and institutional culture.