The Metropolitan Police has suspended 9 officers and referred itself to the police watchdog following a BBC investigation into Charing Cross station.
The Impartial Workplace for Police Conduct (IOPC) mentioned it was investigating the behaviour of 11 people based mostly on the central London station.
The accusations, which characteristic in a forthcoming BBC Panorama documentary, embrace extreme use of pressure, discriminatory and misogynistic feedback, and failing to report or problem inappropriate behaviour, the police watchdog mentioned.
The officers vary in rank from police constable to sergeant.
The allegations – which relate to the conduct of 9 Met officers, a former Met officer and a serving designated detention officer – are mentioned to have taken place each on and off responsibility between August 2024 and January 2025.
The IOPC mentioned it had acquired a referral from one other pressure referring to the conduct of a former Met officer who was beforehand based mostly at Charing Cross and has since transferred.
“These are regarding allegations involving a lot of people and we perceive there might be public concern, significantly in mild of our earlier investigation into comparable allegations on the identical police station,” IOPC director Amanda Rowe mentioned.
Met Police Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist described the alleged behaviour as “disgraceful”.
He added that the Met was taking “fast steps to dismantle the present custody staff at this station, considerably altering the management in our custody command and the Westminster management staff”.
“As well as, we’re scrutinising extra extensively the management and tradition inside these groups, led by Skilled Requirements and senior leaders, to root out any additional failings,” Mr Twist mentioned.
The IOPC in 2022 found “disgraceful” behaviour in the ranks at the same police station, together with a homophobic, racist and misogynistic Whatsapp group.
The Charing Cross report was a part of a string of damaging scandals to hit the pressure that led former Met Police commissioner Dame Cressida Dick to announce she was stepping down from her role in February 2022.
