Institutional racism in the Metropolitan Police

Institutional racism in London's Metropolitan Police

A history of institutional racism, dating back to at least the 1990s, has been acknowledged by the Metropolitan Police Service. Statistics on stop and search show a disproportionate number of such searches targeting those from ethnic minorities. Criticism is also levelled at the use of stop and search on children, particularly children from black and ethnic minority backgrounds. In response, the Metropolitan Police has made efforts to increase diversity in recruitment and address racial bias.

## History

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Institutional racism has been acknowledged in the London Metropolitan Police since at least the 1970s and has received significant coverage.[1]

In 1970, a group of British black activists known as the Mangrove Nine were tried for violent clashes during a protest against the police targeting of The Mangrove restaurant in Notting Hill. The nine men were all acquitted of the most serious charges and the trial became the first judicial acknowledgement of racial hatred within the Metropolitan Police.[2]

Following the murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993, Judge William Macpherson headed a public inquiry (1998) into the handling of the original Metropolitan Police Service investigation of the murder. The inquiry concluded that the investigation was incompetent and that the force was institutionally racist.[3]

In a 1995 study, sociologist Jock Young found that of 1000 randomly selected residents of Finsbury Park who were asked if they had been stopped by the police over the past year, the percentage of the White Irish population who reported being stopped was disproportionately large, at 14.3%, in contrast to 12.8% of Black Caribbean and 5.8% of White British people. The researchers found the Police tactic of waiting outside Irish pubs and clubs to make arrests, to be the cause for the high percentage of White Irish who reported being stopped. This was labelled a form of 'institutionalised racism'.[4][5]

In 2005, police shot dead Jean Charles de Menezes, a Brazilian man who had wrongly been identified as a perpetrator of the attempted terrorist bombings the day before.

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the Metropolitan police were found to be 2.17 times as likely to issue fines to black people for lockdown breaches, relative to the general population.[6][7]

The Met said: "In total, more white people received FPNs [fixed penalty notices] or were arrested than other individual ethnic groups. However, when compared with the composition of the resident population, higher proportions of those in black and minority ethnic (BAME) groups were issued with FPNs or arrested across London as a whole. The reasons for this are likely to be complex and reflect a range of factors. This includes interactions between the areas subject to significant proactive policing activity targeting crime hotspots and both the variation in the age profile and geographical distribution of ethnic groups in London."[6]

In 2019 it was found that strip searches were disproportionately done to black and ethnic minority suspects. Inspectors found the number, "higher than we normally see", and involved, "many children and a significantly higher proportion of black and minority ethnic detainees".[8] Metropolitan Police have strip searched 5,279 children during the three years up to 2022 and 75% (3,939) were from ethnically diverse backgrounds according to the LBC. Sixteen children strip searched were between ten and twelve years old. Statistics only cover children strip searched following arrest and the actual figures are likely to be higher.[9] On 24 June 2022, Metropolitan police referred itself to the IOPC for investigation of 8 strip-searches of youngsters under 18. Reforms will be introduced including that an inspector will have to approve a strip-search of a child, an appropriate adult will have to be present and there will have to be a report. The Met stated "We have reviewed the policy for 'further searches' for those aged under 18 and made changes. This is to assure ourselves the policy is appropriate {...} and that it recognises the fact a child in these circumstances may well be a vulnerable victim of exploitation by others involved in gangs, county lines and drug dealing."[10]

Between 2018 and 2020 there were 650 strip-searches of children, 23% were without an appropriate adult. 58% of boys searched were black. Rachel de Souza said "I am not reassured that what happened to Child Q was an isolated issue, but instead believe it may be a particularly concerning example of a more systemic problem around child protection within the Metropolitan Police. I remain unconvinced that the Metropolitan Police is consistently considering children's welfare and wellbeing."[11] The majority of children strip-searched were innocent. De Souza said "This low level of successful searches arguably indicates that this intrusive practice may well not be justified or necessary in all cases." (95%) of youngsters strip-searched were boys, and a quarter were under 16. De Souza said "I am also extremely concerned by the ethnic disproportionality shown in these figures, particularly given that ethnicity was determined to be such a key factor in the Child Q case. I am not reassured that what happened to Child Q was an isolated issue, but instead believe it may be a particularly concerning example of a more systemic problem around child protection within the Metropolitan Police. I remain unconvinced that the Metropolitan Police is consistently considering children's welfare and wellbeing."[12] In September 2023, Detective Superintendent James Conway said that the Met had been overusing the power of strip search, and that the Met had made changes in the procedure.[13]

Two years later, in March 2022, it was revealed that a 15-year old black girl, referred to as Child Q, was strip-searched by police in school without an adult present after wrongly being suspected of being in possession of Cannabis.[14] An independent safeguarding report concluded the incident was unjustified and racism was likely a factor. In March 2022, it was reported that Child Q was suing the Metropolitan Police and pursuing civil action against her school.[15] The two police officers who carried out the strip search have been removed from front line duties.[16] In September 2023, the IOPC announced that four officers would face misconduct charges over the Child Q case.[13] A hearing of misconduct allegations against three officers was held in June 2025. The panel decided that two officers were guilty of gross misconduct, and they were dismissed. A third officer was found guilty of misconduct, and was given a final written warning. The IOPC had argued that race was a reason for the strip search, but the panel disagreed.[17][18]

In September 2023, an investigation was launched into several officers, four of which belonged to the Territorial Support Group (TSG) of the Metropolitan Police, who allegedly disproportionately searched a 16-year old Black child on six occasions within five months. The case was referred to the IOPC; in 2024, their investigation found 'evidence which indicates potential breaches of the police standards of professional behaviour' on five out of six occasions. A total of eight officers are under investigation, with seven for potential gross misconduct and one for potential misconduct. The IOPC Director acknowledged in the February 2024 report that 'racial profiling of a child and insufficient grounds for stopping and searching them' are 'issues that we know disproportionately affect Black and other minority ethnic communities.'[19]

In August 2017, black bank manager, Dale Semper, was wrongly accused of being involved in gun crime, money laundering, drug dealing, human trafficking, and terrorism. No evidence was ever found during the 2-year investigation, which was concluded with no further action. The Met did not offer an explanation for the investigation.[20] Semper alleged that the Met had engaged in racial discrimination, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, misfeasance, and breach of data protection. He embarked on a civil case against the Met which was settled with £1 million paid in compensation to Semper and his family. Holborn Adams solicitors represented Semper and his family in the case and the firm said the police had also agreed to reinvestigate parts of the complaints that were initially dismissed.[21] Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Met Police, Stuart Cundy, stated: “We stand by the necessity to act following information that was received, but accept some elements of this case were not handled as well as they could have been and we apologise for the impact this has had on the complainants."[22]

## Response

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In June 2022 the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said that there was evidence of "systemic sexism, racism, homophobia, discrimination, misogyny" in the Met; he accepted that there are "dedicated, decent, brave officers" as well. Khan said he felt that the new Police Commissioner would need to restore confidence in London police. Khan accepted that London crime figures are going down.[23] The Met has been put into special measures by HMICFRS.

The Home Secretary, Priti Patel, said the Met was not getting "the basics right. (...) The process to recruit a new commissioner is well under way and I have made clear that the successful candidate must demonstrate sustained improvements in the Met Police in order to regain public trust both in London and across the country. The new commissioner will need to deliver on the public's priorities for the police – making our streets safer, bearing down on crime and bringing more criminals to justice, while continuing to recruit thousands of new officers to protect local communities."[24]

The Inspectorate has "systemic concerns" over the Met, including its inadequate response to emergency calls, "barely adequate" recording of crime and child abuse referrals developing a backlog. A letter from the watchdog to the Met said failures worsened due to the young and inexperienced recruits brought in as an element of the national move to replace thousands of experienced officers cut as part of austerity measures. Matt Parr of the Inspectorate wrote to Sir Stephen House that the inspectors had had "substantial and persistent concerns" about the Met "for a considerable time". The concerns included the Met's approach to tackling corruption which the letter said was "fundamentally flawed" and "not fit for purpose".[25]

In August 2022, the Met started legal proceedings against Parm Sandhu, a former senior officer who has published a book including allegations of 'racial and gender discrimination' against her by the Met. The Met's claim is that Sandhu has breached a non-disclosure agreement which was part of a settlement agreement between Sandhu and the Met.[26]

In September 2022, there were protests over the death of Chris Kaba, who was shot and killed by a Metropolitan Police officer in south London.[27] The police officer involved was shortly afterwards suspended pending the outcome of the investigation by the IOPC. Two police cars had chased and stopped his vehicle late at night on 5 September, following a suspected armed incident the previous day involving the vehicle Kaba was driving.[28] The family also privately met with Scotland Yard's new Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, for 25 minutes after viewing the footage.[29] On 30 March 2023, the IOPC announced that they had referred the case to the Crown Prosecution Service,[30] with the latter announcing on 20 September that year that an officer had been charged with murder in relation to it.[31]

## References

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1. ^ "Met police found to be institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
2. ^ Bunce, Robin; Field, Paul (29 November 2010). "Mangrove Nine: the court challenge against police racism in Notting Hill". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
3. ^ Quinn, Ben (22 February 2019). "Macpherson report: what was it and what impact did it have?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
4. ^ Young, Jock (1995). Policing the Streets (PDF). London: Islington Council. pp. 1–2, 38. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
5. ^ Walter, Bronwen (18 June 1999). "Criminal justice and policing experience". The Irish Community in Britain - diversity, disadvantage and discrimination. Cambridge: Anglia Polytechnic University. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
6. ^ a b Dodd, Vikram (4 June 2020). "Met police twice as likely to fine black people over lockdown breaches – research". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
7. ^ "Coronavirus: Disproportionate number of BAME people fined". BBC News. 3 June 2020. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
8. ^ Met rebuked for strip searches two years before Child Q case in Hackney Archived 20 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine The Guardian
9. ^ "Child Q: Met Police officers strip-search thousands of children and majority are from ethnic backgrounds". 25 March 2022. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
10. ^ Met refers eight more strip-searches of children to police watchdog The Guardian
11. ^ Child Q: Schoolgirl strip-search not isolated issue, police data suggests BBC
12. ^ Revealed: Met police strip-searched 650 children in two-year period The Guardian
13. ^ a b Rawlinson, Kevin (14 September 2023). "Met police admit overusing powers to strip-search children after IOPC inquiry". theguardian.com. Guardian. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
14. ^ "Met Police apologises for strip-search of Hackney schoolgirl". BBC News. 15 March 2022. Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
15. ^ "Strip-searched Hackney schoolgirl to sue Met Police". BBC News. 18 March 2022. Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
16. ^ Two Met officers who strip-searched school girl removed from frontline duties Archived 24 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine The Guardian
17. ^ "Child Q violated in strip-search, hearing told". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 3 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
18. ^ Quinn, Ben (26 June 2025). "Two Met officers dismissed for gross misconduct after strip-search of black schoolgirl". theguardian.com. Guardian. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
19. ^ "Eight Met officers under investigation after boy stopped and searched multiple times | Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)". www.policeconduct.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
20. ^ Adams, Holborn (11 November 2024). "Dale Semper Case Study: Tackling Racism In The Met Police". Holborn Adams. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
21. ^ Quinn, Ben (1 October 2024). "Met settles £1m civil case after wrongful arrest of black bank manager in 2017". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
22. ^ Quinn, Ben (1 October 2024). "Met settles £1m civil case after wrongful arrest of black bank manager in 2017". theguardian.com. Guardian. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
23. ^ Metropolitan Police has real problems, Sadiq Khan says BBC
24. ^ Met Police placed into advanced stage of monitoring BBC
25. ^ Six police forces in England placed in special measures BBC
26. ^ Dodd, Vikram (21 August 2022). "Met police take ex-officer who made claims of sexism and racism to court". www.theguardian.com. Guardian. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
27. ^ T Thomas & A J Khan (17 September 2022). "Protests across UK over killing of unarmed black man Chris Kaba". theguardian.com. Guardian. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
28. ^ "Statement read out at opening of inquest into the death of Chris Kaba". IOPC. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
29. ^ Kirk, Anthony France, Tristan (24 September 2022). "Chris Kaba: Inside story of shooting that shocked London". Evening Standard. Retrieved 17 January 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
30. ^ Dodd, Vikram (30 March 2023). "Met officer referred to prosecutors over fatal shooting of Chris Kaba". theguardian.com. Guardian. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
31. ^ "Officer faces murder charge over Kaba shooting". BBC News. 20 September 2023.