Once again, surprising absolutely no one, the Metropolitan Police are embroiled in yet another scandal following a BBC Panorama investigation.
After filming undercover for seven months at Charing Cross Police station, it is clear that this exposé only managed to scratch the surface of the endemic misogyny and racism at the core of the Met.
Throughout the programme, the officers of Charing Cross are heard making countless racist and misogynistic remarks; assaulting an autistic 17 year old while detaining him; and releasing a man accused of rape and stamping on the stomach of a pregnant woman – even when concerns were raised.
The list goes on: officers were recorded bragging about their use of excessive force; gloating over getting into scraps; and one officer even remarked “either put a bullet through his head or deport him” in reference to immigrants overstaying on their visas.
While the BBC are predictably keen to point out that there are many good, fine, and upstanding officers that do their job very well – it’s hard to watch this and come away with that conclusion. You’re left with the feeling that this behaviour runs throughout the entire force.
In a statement, Met commissioner Mark Rowley denounced the behaviour as “reprehensible” and “completely unacceptable” – before making all the same promises about tackling the Met’s “toxic legacy” we’ve heard a thousand times before.
This all comes at a time where the British state in general – and the Met Police specifically – are reviled by millions for their heavy-handed repression and gang-like tactics against peaceful Palestine protestors.
The programme makes the point that officers should not do anything which “discredits the police service or undermines public confidence”, and that “officers must not use excessive force”.
But for anyone who has witnessed the repression of the Palestine movement, the murder of Sarah Everard, the killing of Chris Kaba, and abuse of Child Q, and the countless other scandals of the past decade, the damage has already been done.
The police themselves are among the biggest criminals in society. As an institution, the force is unsalvageable. It must be smashed, along with the capitalist system that breeds violence and oppression.
Conversation with an off-duty Met Police officer
While selling The Communist I spoke to a man with a Palestine pin. We discussed the government’s complicity in the atrocious genocide in Gaza.
He mentioned the heavy handedness of the Metropolitan Police against Palestine Action supporters. After a long pause… he showed me his police badge.
“The Met are failing on all fronts. If the public got wind, there would be riots,” he revealed.
He was currently off work due to an injury, and dreaded going back because he would be called to put down the Palestine protests – which he supported.
He also recounted hearing racist comments from another officer. When he brought it to his sergeant’s attention, he was told to apologise to the officer who had made the comments.
“I’ve checked out,” he sighed. “I’ve dwindled my savings”.
He had joined the police force hoping to make a difference. But now he identifies more with the communities and protestors he is ordered to keep in line than with his government employers and their paymasters.
While pessimistic, he agreed that the system isn’t working, and needs to be overthrown. How many other officers feel the same?
Alex Charlton, London
