Number of Met officers facing misconduct hearings has doubled since 2015, but concerns remain

Figures released by the London Assembly show that the Metropolitan Police held more than double the number of misconduct hearings in 2023 compared to 2015. Last year, 163 Met Police officers faced hearings – 153 of which involved allegations of gross misconduct – compared to just 79 in 2015.

This significant increase in misconduct hearings is clearly a positive step in ensuring police misconduct is dealt with appropriately. Nevertheless, there are concerns that much remains to be done to reform a force that was branded institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic by a landmark report released in early 2023. Indeed, while the number of hearings has increased, so too has the number of complaints against Met Police officers and the backlog of cases waiting to be heard.

In this post, we’ll look more closely at the data around police misconduct in the Met Police and how it reflects broader concerns around public trust in the police across the country. We’ll also look at steps you can take if you’ve been a victim of police misconduct, including seeking compensation through a civil action against the police.

Misconduct at the Met: The key figures

The increased number of misconduct hearings in recent years has been welcomed by Unmesh Desai, the London Assembly Labour spokesperson for policing and crime, as an indication that the Met Police is on the right track following last year’s Casey Report. That report found “systemic and fundamental problems in how the Met is run”.

With this in mind, Desai remarked that the figures indicate “a significant improvement in the accountability of police officers from previous years, showing the improved standards of the Metropolitan Police”. He went on to say that “the fact that more police are being held to account should be welcomed” as part of the attempt to “rebuild trust and confidence” in the force.

These figures are not the only ones showing the Met is taking seriously the challenges of reforming both its internal culture and its public image. Statistics released in late 2023 showed that the number of officers sacked for gross misconduct had increased by 66% over the preceding year, and that more than 1000 officers were suspended or on restricted duties at the time.

The number of reports from the public regarding alleged misconduct had also doubled from 2022 to 2023, according to figures released by the Met. If we take a longer view, the increase in allegations of misconduct is even more striking. In 2019, 842 officers faced misconduct allegations. By 2023, this had increased to 2,284.

Ongoing challenges for restoring trust

While the increase in the number of misconduct hearings and suspensions certainly suggests the Met Police is taking serious steps to root out misbehaviour, there are nevertheless some signs for concern.

Firstly, this push toward increased accountability is putting serious strain on the complaints system. As of August 2024, there is a backlog of 355 Met Police officers awaiting misconduct hearings – a significant increase compared to 2022.

This growing backlog may serve to significantly extend the already prolonged delay between a complaint being made and an outcome being reached. According to the Casey Report, the Met took 400 days on average to finalise misconduct cases stemming from internal complaints – that is, complaints by other officers, members of staff, or their family members. Meanwhile, more than a third of public complaints take over 300 days to resolve.

The Casey Report also revealed significant concerns about whether the complaints process itself was capable of providing satisfactory outcomes even when these did finally arrive. Casey noted that “55-60% of misconduct allegations end in a ‘no case to answer’ decision” for internal complaints. For public complaints, this is even higher – an astonishing 90% of public complaints led to no action being taken in the time frame studied by the report.

Finally, and perhaps most concerningly of all, the Met Police had 40% of its internal investigations into serious complaints overturned by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). This led to concerns that the police are allowed to “mark their own homework”, as Holly Bird, policy and research officer at policing reform group StopWatch, puts it.

Understanding the police complaints process

While there may be concerns with how the police complaints system is implemented by specific forces, it is nevertheless a vital way for victims of police misconduct to seek redress. Let’s look more closely at how the process works, and what your alternatives are if you are not satisfied with the outcome.

Firstly, it’s important to note that every police force in the country has a department devoted to managing complaints – this is usually called the professional standards department. Their role is to ensure complaints are dealt with appropriately and, where necessary, investigated thoroughly.

A police complaint can result in a variety of outcomes, including disciplinary procedures for the officers involved and a formal apology by the force. If you are unsatisfied with the outcome of a police complaint, you are also entitled to ask for a formal review of the decision.

For more on the police complaints process, read our post about how to make a complaint against the police.

It’s also important to be aware that a police complaint is not your only option if you’ve experienced police misconduct. You can also take the police to court through a civil action against the police. Doing so can not only help you seek justice if you have been let down by the police complaints process, but it can also help you secure compensation for any damages you suffered – something you will not get from a police complaint.

HNK Solicitors can support your civil action against the police

The data released by the London Assembly suggests that the Met Police is taking seriously the pervasive issues identified by the Casey Report. Nevertheless, ongoing concerns about the complaints process and a growing backlog of cases shows that much remains to be done. And in this, the Met Police are not alone – forces across the country must take seriously declining public trust in the police and concerns about misconduct.

If you have been a victim of police misconduct, it’s important to know that a police complaint is not your only option. If you have suffered damages – whether through physical injury, financial losses, reputational damage, or anxiety and distress – a civil action against the police could help you secure life-changing compensation.

Here at HNK Solicitors, our team of police misconduct experts have helped many clients secure the compensation they deserve after being mistreated by the police. We also offer free consultations to discuss your case and advise you on your next steps, with no obligation to pursue a claim.

So, if you’ve been a victim of police misconduct, get in touch today. Call us on 0151 668 0809, or email us at enquiries@hnksolicitors.com.