The report from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) found “fundamental flaws” in Scotland Yards’ anti-corruption practices that were described as “unacceptable”.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who was briefed on the results of the report in February shortly before Cressida Dick’s resignation, said on Tuesday that “Londoners will be shocked” by the scale of the report’s findings as he lashed out at Cressida Dick’s “mistakes”. .
The report revealed a wide range of errors in the Met, including the recruitment of more than 100 officers with criminal records in the last two years alone and examples of “hundreds of items” of evidence, including “cash and drugs” that were not accounted for.
In response to the report on Tuesday, Mr Khan told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “It is shocking. Londoners will be shocked at the results of the HMIC report, at the checks that are not being carried out and should be carried out, in compared to those with judgments working in sensitive areas and so on.
“Londoners now know my views on the current Commissioner. The Met Police Federation and the current Commissioner may not like that I have an important job in holding the police to account, but I take it very seriously. The new commissioner’s task will be to solve some of these shortcomings – and they are wrong. “
Although Mr Khan was partially briefed on the report along with Home Secretary Priti Patel and Cressida Dick even before her departure in February, he said there were “a number of things” that led to him losing confidence in the commissioner.
He added: “Obviously, when you have that kind of mistake that is not being corrected, Londoners will understand why I made the decision I did.”
Despite her resignation last month, Cressida Dick continues in her role as commissioner on a temporary basis while a new commissioner is recruited.
On Tuesday, Sadiq Khan reiterated his position that the new commissioner should present a plan on how they intend to restore public confidence in the Met.
He said: “The two pressing issues for the new Commissioner – given the inability of the current Commissioner to do this – are one: to have a plan to address these issues. There are deep cultural issues around racism, sexism, misogyny “
The HMICFRS report was commissioned by Priti Patel last summer following the findings of Daniel Morgan’s independent panel, which concluded that Met was “institutionally corrupt”.
The interior minister said on Tuesday she was “very disappointed” that the serious problems uncovered in the report “still continue” despite some progress in certain areas.
She said: “Standards need to be improved immediately. I expect the Mayor of London and the new Commissioner to address these shortcomings as a matter of urgency.”