“Few” officers in London’s Metropolitan Police believe that “crime prevention is a key part of their role”—even when it comes to reducing violence against women and girls—a damning report has found. This just days after official figures revealed a 50% increase in violent attacks on women and girls on the nation’s railways.
HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has deemed that the Met—which finds itself in the national headlines almost daily over one controversy or another—is failing in almost every area of its work.
The force’s efforts to investigate crime and manage offenders were dismissed as “inadequate,” while its work in five other areas were described as “requiring improvement.” The Met’s handling of just one of its duties was described as “adequate.” The inspector did not see it fit to rank the force’s work as “good” or “outstanding” in any category.
One particularly critical area of the HMIC report said the Met is “inconsistent in its management of sex offenders,” putting women and girls in danger. Perhaps most shockingly, it pointed to “evidence that too many visits to registered sex offenders are announced in advance.”
Visits to registered sex offenders should be unannounced so they provide a true understanding of the risk the registered sex offender poses. If visits are announced, there is greater opportunity for the registered sex offender to conceal prohibited devices such as phones and laptops or items that might indicate that they are in breach of licence or the conditions of a sexual harm prevention order.
The Times newspaper also highlighted the case of one high-risk registered sex offender who hadn’t been successfully visited since 2017.
Metropolitan Police officials said they are “now reflecting carefully on the findings” and:
We will continue to work closely with the Inspectorate, the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, and other partners to improve delivery for Londoners.
https://x.com/metpoliceuk/status/1823962838731301288
Labour London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he is “confident” that Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley can “turn this around.” But the horrific findings are bound to add weight to long-standing calls for the police chief to quit his role and make way for someone more capable.
