Nine officers at the UK’s busiest police station could be sacked in an investigation into allegations of excessive force on prisoners, misogyny and inappropriate behaviour.
One officer, a police constable, is also being investigated for the potential criminal offence of perverting the course of justice.
The officers, from Charing Cross police station near Trafalgar Square in central London, have been suspended by Scotland Yard.
They are the subject of a gross misconduct investigation by the watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Two others, a former Met officer and a civilian staff worker, are also facing the same disciplinary charge which could lead to dismissal.
Another serving officer has been told they are no longer being investigated because it was thought their behaviour did not breach professional standards.
The Metropolitan force, the UK’s biggest, was told of the allegations three weeks ago, which include excessive use of force, making discriminatory and misogynistic comments, and failing to report or challenge inappropriate behaviour.
The incidents are alleged to have happened on and off duty between August 2024 and January 2025.
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Matter ‘taken extremely seriously’
IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: “Having advised the individuals they are under investigation we will now be securing initial accounts from them. We are treating this matter extremely seriously and have a team of investigators carrying out enquiries.
“Given the volume of CCTV footage and the number of individuals involved, it will take time to obtain and review all of the evidence, however we want to reassure the public that we are working hard to progress enquiries as quickly as possible.
“We have identified and are contacting members of the public involved to inform them of our investigation and explain our role and we will be speaking to them in due course.”
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Watchdog appeals for information
The IOPC said it had appealed to Met police officers and staff for any information about bad conduct at the Charing Cross custody suite.
When the allegations emerged three weeks ago, Met Police Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist described them as “disgraceful”.
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He said the Met was taking “immediate steps to dismantle the current custody team at this station, significantly changing the leadership in our custody command and the Westminster leadership team”.
Three years ago, the IOPC issued wide-ranging recommendations to the Met to change policing practices after a series of investigations found evidence of bullying, discrimination, and offensive social media messages, predominately among officers at Charing Cross.
