Metropolitan Police Expose Racism and “Pathetic Punishments” Within the Force: ‘They’ll Treat You Like an Animal’

A Black Metropolitan Police officer has spoken out about experiencing severe racism from white colleagues, likening his treatment to that of “an animal” and criticizing the force for what he describes as “pathetic punishments” for those who make racist remarks.

This officer is one of ten Black and ethnic minority officers who shared their experiences with the BBC, highlighting concerns that racism is worsening within the UK’s most significant police force.

“They keep putting you down until you break and feel nothing,” Officer A revealed. He criticized the force’s disciplinary measures, stating that racist behaviour is often met with minimal consequences, such as being sent to “learning through reflection” sessions, which he believes fail to send a strong message against racism.

Assistant Commissioner Pippa Mills, who oversees trust and legitimacy at the Met, responded to these accounts by expressing deep regret, stating, “It’s tough to hear,” and acknowledging that despite perceived progress, it is “simply not enough.”

Other officers recounted similar experiences of racial discrimination. One South Asian officer reported being ridiculed with comments about smelling of curry, while another mentioned receiving “funny looks” due to their appearance. Over several weeks, these middle-ranking officers described a culture where racism is often ignored, and the careers of Black and ethnic minority officers are deliberately obstructed.

The officers also accused Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley of not doing enough to address discrimination, a claim that comes less than 18 months after the release of a report by Baroness Louise Casey, which labelled the Met as institutionally racist, misogynistic, and homophobic. While Rowley has acknowledged the presence of racism, he has resisted using the term “institutional,” citing its ambiguity. He also noted that 25% of recruits are from ethnic minorities, claiming progress in diversity.

Metropolitan Police launches recruitment drive stating ‘Change Needs You’ | M10news

However, another South Asian officer countered this, saying racism has worsened because of a lack of concrete actions to combat it, leading to covert racism and unfair targeting of minority officers. A 2019 National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) report found that ethnic minority officers were twice as likely to face misconduct allegations compared to their white counterparts.

However, no current statistics exist on the number of Black and minority ethnic officers facing disciplinary action.

The Met recently launched a recruitment campaign to boost falling officer numbers, with ethnic minority representation highlighted. However, Officer A dismissed the campaign as “a joke,” advising against joining the force due to the discrimination he and others have faced.

A national campaign to recruit 20,000 police officers launches today – GOV.UK.

Officer A further criticized the force for not addressing racism adequately, noting that discussions about the issue are met with discomfort and that the commissioner fails to acknowledge the severity of the problem.

Despite the introduction of a national race action plan by the NPCC in response to the murder of George Floyd, the National Black Police Association (NBPA) recently withdrew its support, citing a toxic working environment and a lack of genuine commitment to change within the Met.

The NBPA president, Andy George, expressed concerns that the Met deliberately avoided making necessary improvements in London. Officer A echoed this sentiment, describing the Met’s efforts as mere “lip service,” with little visible action to support their claims of working towards change.

In response, a Met spokesperson insisted that the force is “determined to deliver genuine change” to create a more inclusive environment, though they acknowledged that it would take time for staff to feel the impact.

Assistant Commissioner Mills added that the Met is reviewing its vetting processes to remove individuals who do not uphold the force’s standards and values.

Sola Adeniji

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