WIREDGOV

In April last year, the IOPC announced an investigation into allegations an officer had sex in a room at Charing Cross police station. The scope of that investigation has now widened considerably.

The allegations originated from mobile phone messages between officers that were uncovered during a separate, internal Metropolitan Police investigation which was subsequently called in by the IOPC.

Further analysis of these messages and others has led us to now investigate a number of serious allegations. These include allegations that officers may have been involved in:

• bullying and inappropriate behaviour towards other officers, including sending threatening and malicious messages.
• violence towards women and taking advantage of vulnerable people
• use of controlled substances including steroids and the potential behavioural impact of taking these substances
• perverting the course of justice by deleting messages relevant to a criminal investigation
• racist, misogynistic and other discriminatory language and behaviour
• failing to report wrongdoing

Currently the allegations relate to 10 officers, eight Police Constables and two Police Sergeants, predominately from a unit known as the ‘Impact team’, which has since been disbanded, and a small number of other police officers primarily based at Charing Cross police station or West End Central. The allegations outlined above do not apply to all ten officers.

Since beginning our investigation we have reviewed a large volume of material, identified and spoken to policing and non-policing witnesses, analysed phone data and have interviewed the officers currently under investigation. We have carried out two searches under warrant for the perverting the course of justice allegation where electronic devices were seized and are in the process of being analysed. Drugs testing has also been carried out by the MPS due to allegations about steroid use. 

IOPC Regional Director, Sal Naseem yesterday said:

“These are very serious allegations and it is vital for public confidence that these are independently investigated. We are committed to using our enforcement powers to root out officers whose conduct undermines the public’s confidence in policing and who should not be wearing the uniform. There is no indication this is part of any wider teams within the station but our overarching report will consider the wider culture and team.

“We would also like to hear from other officers at Charing Cross station, or the wider public, who may be able to provide valuable information to our investigation.”

Anyone with information should contact the IOPC on MPSwitnessinbox@policeconduct.gov.uk or by phone on 0800 029 4686.