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Scotland Yard launches hotline for public and police to report ‘racist and corrupt’ officers

Scotland Yard - Kirsty O'Connor/PA
Scotland Yard - Kirsty O'Connor/PA

Scotland Yard is launching a hotline to allow people to anonymously report officers who are racist, misogynistic, corrupt or violent.

From Tuesday anyone with concerns about a Metropolitan Police officer can call a confidential number manned by trained staff from Crimestoppers, an independent charity.

Information will then be passed to detectives in the new Anti-Corruption and Abuse Command, who will investigate  allegations.

The hotline will be open to members of the public and serving staff and officers who have concerns about their colleagues.

A recent review into police misconduct found that many officers were reluctant to complain about colleagues because they did not believe anything would be done.

Warned against making complaints

Baroness Casey’s report found that up to 60 per cent of misconduct allegations made against Met officers resulted in a “no case to answer" decision and line managers and supervisors would often warn people against making complaints.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said the move would make it easier to expose corrupt officers who had undermined the Met’s integrity and let down the majority of decent officers.

Commander James Harman, head of the new unit, said: “It is so important that the good majority at the Met can trust their colleagues, and that the public know there are clear systems in place where appalling behaviours will be challenged and addressed robustly.

“We are therefore taking this exceptional step to identify and remove anyone who corrupts our integrity.

“We want to reassure the heroic majority within the Met that corrupt colleagues will be rooted out, but also for the public to see how seriously we take abuses of power and how determined we are to rebuild trust and confidence.”

Rooting out corrupt staff

The Met’s Anti-Corruption Command was launched in October with the aim of proactively rooting out corrupt and abusive officers and staff.

As well as identifying those officers who use their position for financial gain or sexual advantage, the force wants to rid itself of those who are racist, misogynistic and homophobic.

In October Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Commissioner, warned officers they would be sacked if they made inappropriate jokes or use "banter" to legitimise sexual violence.

Mr Harman added: “The public can help us by sharing any information they have. We know that trust in us has been impacted and that is why we have asked the independent charity Crimestoppers to manage the hotline.”