Skip to main content
The police need more than a change of leadership
The internal culture won't change until officers lose the feeling of being above the law — that means prosecutions for spy cops, deaths in custody and the other obvious crimes officers are never held to account for, argues PAUL DONOVAN
Former Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick in 2017

THE Metropolitan Police have never been far from the headlines recently. Met Commissioner Cressida Dick stood down after London Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed his displeasure at her performance.

There have been a series of scandals, including the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving policeman, the subsequent mishandling of a peaceful demonstration concerning her death, the poor investigation and subsequent promotion of some of the officers involved concerning the Stephen Port case and the taking and circulation of pictures taken of two dead young women by police officers.

In the Port case the Met has been accused of institutional homophobia over the investigation of the murders of four men. Seventeen officers from the case were cleared of misconduct, whilst seven have been promoted.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan during press day at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London, May 18, 2026
Technology / 22 May 2026
22 May 2026
SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENT: At Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis Baraa Heikal mourns over the body of his brother Fadi Heikal, killed in an Israeli strike, May 10 2026
Policing / 14 May 2026
14 May 2026

The Met Police's refusal to act against British nationals accused of war crimes in Gaza is a green light for Israel's genocide, writes CLAUDIA WEBBE

Louise Raw and Louise Regan with the Palestine flag and the other one is of Laura Alvarez (on the left) and Jamila Bolton-Gordon
Activism / 30 June 2025
30 June 2025

BEN CHACKO reports on the struggles against sexism, racism and the brutish British state that featured at Matchwomen’s Festival this year