There are no mitigating circumstances. A year after the review into the Metropolitan Police was commissioned, Baroness Casey’s report has been published and it’s findings are damning, branding Britain’s biggest force as institutionally racist, sexist, homophobic and misogynistic. The review was commissioned following the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by serving officer Wayne Couzens in March 2021. Since then, numerous other reports of crimes and abuse within the Met have emerged, including those of serial rapist, David Carrick. Baroness Casey’s report says that Scotland Yard has lost the trust and confidence of the people it is meant to keep safe. She warns that policing by consent is “broken” and suggests a complete overhaul of the force. And she says the Met is struggling to embed good behaviour among officers and can no longer be trusted to police itself. Baroness Casey also warns there could be another Wayne Couzens or David Carrick hiding in the ranks. Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley has apologised for the numerous failings and said the report sparked feelings of “anger and shame”. He accepted there was racism, misogyny and homophobia in the force, but would not use the term “institutional” because it was ambiguous and political.

However, the report finds that violence against women and girls has not been taken as seriously as other forms of violence, and that more than half of women in London say they no longer trust the force to keep women and girls safe. One serving officer told the review that rape detection rates are so low, “you may as well say it’s legal in London.” The issues are also widespread within the force itself. A female officer was branded a troublemaker and liar after reporting a colleague for sexually assaulting her. And in one example of racism, a female black officer described how a senior officer used the n-word when arresting someone. Home Secretary, Suella Braverman says she will “continue to hold the Commissioner to account to deliver wholesale change in the force’s culture.” But is that enough? Should the report be the beginning of the end for the Met?