Council slams Met over Baroness Casey report set-up in wake of Sarah Everard murder

A council has condemned the Met after the release of the long-awaited Baroness Casey report which has exposed “deep-seated homophobia, misogyny and racism”.

The report was commissioned in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard – who was killed by Met cop Wayne Couzens after she was abducted near Clapham Common.

It has laid bare in more than 300 pages a series of grave concerns about the Met’s culture and standards.

The leader of Lambeth council has expressed her anger at the damning report, which concludes that the police force continues to let down Londoners.

Councillor Claire Holland said: “This report is shameful, detailing appalling breaches of trust and the failure of the Met to properly protect Londoners.

“It reveals what many of us know all too well – that there is widespread failure in the Met to deal with misconduct by officers which leaves racism, misogyny and homophobia going unpunished.

“These findings may not surprise residents in Lambeth, particularly women, our LGBTQ+ communities and those from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, who directly experience this racism, misogyny and homophobia.

“But they continue to cause distress and trauma amongst them, preventing trust in the police from being built and leaving our communities vulnerable to mistreatment.”

Communities in Lambeth have experienced the Met’s failures, from the horrifying murder of Ms Everard to the shooting of Chris Kaba and death in custody of Ian Taylor.

Elsewhere in the report, Baroness Casey highlighted predatory and unacceptable behaviour that has “been allowed to flourish,” and a culture of denial in the force.

There are also “systemic and fundamental problems” in how the Met is run, while Londoners have been “put last,” with women and children left behind.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Following a series of scandals, I asked for this independent review to be conducted by Baroness Louise Casey because I was deeply concerned about the cultural issues and systemic failings within the Met.

“The evidence is damning. Baroness Casey has found institutional racism, misogyny and homophobia, which I accept. She has described the Met as defensive, resistant to change and unwilling to engage with communities.

“As Mayor, I’ve already acted to put the Met on a path of far-reaching systematic and cultural reform, with the appointment of a new Commissioner and leadership team who acknowledge the scale of the problems and are committed to change. But clearly much more needs to be done, and fast.”

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: “This report sparks feelings of shame and anger but it also increases our resolve.

“I am proud of those people, our officers and staff, whose passion for policing and determination to reform moved them to share their experiences with such honesty.

“This is, in many ways, their report. It must be a catalyst for police reform.

“This report needs to lead to meaningful change. If it only leads to pillory and blame of the exceptional majority of officers then only criminals will benefit.

“We need it to galvanise Londoners, the dedicated police majority and politicians to coalesce around reform and the renewal of policing by consent for the 21st century.”

Pictured top: People in the crowd turn on their phone torches in Clapham Common after the Reclaim These Streets vigil for Sarah Everard was officially cancelled on March 13, 2021 (Picture: PA)