Met Police failing in areas of its work, inspectors say
The Met is “failing” in several areas of its work, according to the police inspectorate, which has raised “serious concerns” over the force’s performance.
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said the Metropolitan Police must make “urgent improvements”.
It follows a series of scandals that have engulfed Scotland Yard.
However, the report described “many successes” at the Met Police, which it said was good at preventing crime.
The force said it was “committed to making changes to address all of the issues that the report highlights”.
HMICFRS graded the Met’s performance in the way it responds to the public as “inadequate”, while finding it “requires improvement” in areas such as investigating crime, protecting vulnerable people and managing offenders.
The force was judged as “adequate” in two areas of its police work but only found to be “good” in one.
Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr said his concerns about the force had been growing for a “considerable time” and this latest report “raises serious concerns about how the force responds to the public”.
Among his criticisms was that calls from the public were not being answered quickly enough.
Mr Parr added that the force must better support officers and staff. Investigations were not being overseen properly, he said, and work was being allocated unfairly, placing “undue pressure” on some staff.
HMICFRS’s findings have been published just days after Sir Mark Rowley took over as commissioner of the force following Dame Cressida Dick’s resignation earlier this year.
The Met has said it recognised the “concerns” raised by the report. Deputy Commissioner Lynn Owens said: “Our new Commissioner, Sir Mark, has returned to policing with a clear plan for change at the Met.
“We are both determined to renew policing by consent, working with communities to deliver the kind of police service Londoners need and deserve.”
Source: (BBC News)