WIREDGOV

Our investigation into allegations individuals within the Metropolitan Police Service’s (MPS) Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) abused their position to affect ongoing investigations is making good progress.

We received a total of 38 allegations relating to 15 officers and one member of police staff. Following an extensive scoping exercise and review of evidence, our investigation focused on 21 allegations concerning eight officers and one member of staff. The officers are between the ranks of Chief Inspector and Chief Superintendent.

All those individuals have been served notices informing them they are under investigation for a potential breach of professional standards. It should be noted that the serving of a notice does not in any way indicate disciplinary proceedings will follow.

The allegations include:

• interference in investigations to downgrade the severity of charges laid against an officer
• interference to assist an officer accused of wrong-doing ignoring a potential conflict of interest failing to properly engage with evidence presented and abuses of process while conducting an investigation an allegation of racist behaviour being dropped in order to protect the reputation of MPS.

The allegations relate to more than 25 internal investigations.

The investigation is also considering whether there are systemic issues within DPS processes.

In September 2018 it was widely reported that we were investigating an allegation that an officer used language that was potentially racially discriminatory. This allegation was sent back to the MPS to be dealt with internally as opposed to through the police complaints system.

IOPC Director Steve Noonan, yesterday said:

“We have reviewed a great deal of material, which initially included over five million emails, along with statements given by the individuals concerned and are making good progress to concluding our investigation, with a number of final investigationreports currently being written. We are also considering the culture, disciplinary processes and systems used by the DPS, to identify any relevant learning that will help MPS improve their handling of internal investigations, giving confidence to the public and serving officers and police staff.”