Almost 2,000 complaints against Met in just two months

By Joe Talora, Local Democracy Reporter

Scotland Yard received almost 2,000 complaints in the first two months of 2022, new figures have revealed.

Members of the public made 1,921 complaints against the Metropolitan Police in January and February of this year, with issues ranging from the general level of service provided to discriminatory behaviour and sexual misconduct.

Of the complaints received, 33 were for discriminatory behaviour relating to race. There were 158 complaints relating to police use of force and 76 for the use of stop and search powers.

Scotland Yard has also received eight complaints relating to the sexual conduct of officers so far in 2022.

Five complaints of sexual assault have been made and one complaint was made for sexual harassment. The other two related to “other sexual conduct”.

The figures were revealed by London mayor Sadiq Khan following a written question from Green Party London Assembly Member Caroline Russell.

Ms Russell said: “I’m really concerned that new data from the Met shows a complaint every week on the basis of disability, a shocking nine complaints a week on the basis of race and about 32 complaints a week related to individual police behaviours including impolite and intolerant actions, overbearing or harassing behaviours and unprofessional attitude and disrespect.

“These complaints reflect some of the shocking examples of rotten police behaviour exposed over recent months.

The Central West BCU has consistently received significant numbers of complaints since 2016 according to the new data, with the West BCU – covering Hillingdon, Ealing and Hounslow – also receiving high numbers of complaints.

Public complaints against the Met reached a high of 16,726 in 2020, while there were around 2,000 fewer complaints the following year.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said on Monday that public trust in London’s police is at “the lowest level on record” following a series of “devastating scandals” including the murder of Sarah Everard by a then serving Met officer and evidence of homophobic, racist and misogynistic messages shared by officers.

Met Commissioner Cressida Dick announced her resignation last month following a public falling out with the mayor who said he had “lost confidence” in her ability to lead the force. She leaves her role next month.

A spokesperson for Mr Khan said that he was “working with the Home Secretary to appoint a new Commissioner who understands the depths of the problems faced by the force and has a plan to restore the trust and confidence of Londoners”.

A new Commissioner is expected to be appointed this summer.