The Metropolitan Police is being “monitored” over its recent performance, the independent inspectorate has confirmed.
In a statement, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said the move was to help support the Met Police to make “improvements”.
“We can confirm that we are now monitoring the Metropolitan Police Service through our Engage process, which provides additional scrutiny and support to help it make improvements,” they added.
The HMICFRS outlined the two stages of its monitoring process, starting with the “scanning” phase – which “uses data and information from a range of sources to highlight poor or deteriorating performance and identify potential areas of concern”.
They add that if a force is “not responding to a cause of concern”, or if it is “not succeeding in managing, mitigating or eradicating the cause of concern”, then it will likely be moved to the “Engage” phase.
Here forces will develop an “improvement plan” to address concerns.
Referring to the “special measures” the Met has been placed under, Home Secretary Priti Patel said “it is clear the Metropolitan Police Service is falling short”.
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“I expect the police to get the basics right… which is why I support the action that HMICFRS has taken today to highlight their failings – and I expect the Met and the London Mayor to take immediate action to begin addressing them.
“The process to recruit a new commissioner is well underway and I have made clear that the successful candidate must demonstrate sustained improvements in the Metropolitan Police Service in order to regain public trust both in London and across the country.
“The new commissioner will need to deliver on the public’s priorities for the police – making our streets safer, bearing down on crime and bringing more criminals to justice, while continuing to recruit thousands of new officers to protect local communities.”
A statement from the Met said: “We recognise the cumulative impact of events and problems that the Met is dealing with. We understand the impact this has had on communities and we share their disappointment.
“We are determined to be a police service Londoners can be proud of. We are talking to the Inspectorate about next steps.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “I will work with HMIC and will hold the Met to account in delivering the police reforms and step change in policing performance and culture that all our communities deserve.”
Incidents involving the Metropolitan Police
A series of controversial incidents involving the Met led to former commissioner, Dame Cressida Dick, resigning earlier this year.
She had “no choice” but to step down after London Mayor Sadiq Khan lost “confidence” in her.
Dame Cressida has been replaced on an interim basis by Sir Stephen House while her successor is recruited.
One of the most notable cases was the murder of Sarah Everard by serving police officer Wayne Couzens.
An investigation found concerns had been raised about Couzens – reportedly nicknamed “the rapist” by colleagues in a different police force before joining the Met.
The Met was also criticised for its heavy-handed policing of a vigil in Miss Everard’s memory.
A number of incidents of Met officers strip-searching children – including menstruating girls like Child Q – are being probed by the the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Concerns were also raised about “institutional corruption” in the unsolved murder of Daniel Morgan.
It was also said that mistakes “probably” contributed to the deaths of three out of four of Stephen Port’s victims. The IOPC has announced it will reopen an investigation into the Metropolitan Police’s handling of the case.
There have also been cases of Met officers being condemned for racism and misogyny, largely centred on the Charing Cross police station.
Two officers were jailed after taking and sharing pictures of two murdered women at a crime scene.
