IOPC finds discrimination, harassment and bullying at Charing Cross team

IOPC has found discrimination, harassment and bullying involving officers predominantly based at Charing Cross Police Station. WhatApps messages were found to contain racist, misogynistic and homophobic comments. Officers were using `banter' to excuse unacceptable behaviour.

Fourteen officers were investigated by the IOPC. 

One officers was dismissed for gross misconduct. One other resigned before the end of the investigation. Four officers attended misconduct meetings where allegations of misconduct were proven against two officers. One received a written warning and one received no further action as they had already demonstrated performance improvements. Misconduct was not proven against the two other officers. Two officers were subject to unsatisfactory performance procedures. They attended a formal meeting to discuss their performance and appropriate action going forward. Two officers were subjected to reflective practice to improve their performance. The investigation found no case to answer for the remaining four officers.

We are making it clear to the MPS, after the inquest into the Barking & Dagenham murders, this report further erodes the trust and confidence of the LGBT+ community in the Metropolitan Police. We are committed to working with the MPS to make sure lessons are learnt and actions are taken.

More details at IOPC website: 

https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/recommendations/thematic-learning-issued-address-cultural-concerns-nine-linked-investigations–

https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/recommendations/operation-hotton-recommendations-metropolitan-police-service-september-2021

 

Barking & Dagenham murders: coroner publishes report

The coroner's inquest into the circumstances and the police investigation of the deaths of Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor concluded in December 2021. The jury have returned a verdict of unlawful deaths, raising many issues regarding the professionalism of the Metropolitan Police. 

Her Honour Judge Sarah Munro QC has published her report on Action to Prevent Future Deaths (PFD report)

The report gives a summary of the facts of the murder investigation and lists six Matters of Concern addressed to the Metropolitan Police, National Police Chiefs' Council, College of Policing and the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, covering

• categorisation of suspicious, non-suspicious and unexplained deaths
• interaction between specialist homicide investigators and local officers in determining ownership of investigation
• leadership in responsibility over investigations of unexplained deaths
• recording of investigation details on information systems
• handwriting verification
• need to verify identity of users of escort website

Although the disciplinary action is not in the remit of the coroner's inquest, the coroner points out to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) that the inquest has "exposed failings which were not identified by the IOPC in their investigation". 

She also commends the IOPC report to upcoming reviews of the Metropolitan Police as containing a "valuable analysis of how assumptions, stereotyping and unconscious bias may have detrimentally affected the decision-making in these investigations and contributed to the failure to identify Stephen Port as a perpetrator sooner".

The LGBT+ Advisory Group is committed to working with the Metropolitan Police to address these concerns.

 

Murder in Tower Hamlets Park Cemetery: New Arrest

Update 21 January 2022

A man has been arrested for the murder of Ranjith Kankanamalage in Tower Hamlets Park Cemetery. He will remain in custody.

We hope this marks the start of achieving some justice for Ranjith, although we appreciate this can never bring him back.

We have worked closely together with the borough commander, the homicide team, Tower Hamlets council and the local community over the course of this investigation. 

We will continue to work with the police to make sure that LGBT+ people are safe in Tower Hamlets and in all of London and. We will ensure that the ramifications of this horrific incident are fully explored.

https://news.met.police.uk/news/new-arrest-in-tower-hamlets-murder-investigation-436509

 

Barking & Dagenham murders: community meeting

The coroner's inquest into the circumstances and the police investigation of the deaths of Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor concluded in December 2021. The jury have returned a verdict of unlawful deaths, raising many issues regarding the professionalism of the Metropolitan Police. The recent BBC docudrama, Four Lives, aired in January. 

It is clear that there are strong feelings about the failures of the police in this investigation. We are organising a community meeting on 24th January.

Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball, Commander Jonathan Savell and the commander for the East Area, Paul Trevers, will be attending to listen to your concerns and to answer questions.

This event is organised by the LGBT+ Advisory Group to the Metropolitan Police. 

Following current Covid19 safety advice, this will be an online Zoom event.

Date: Monday 24th January, 6pm-7.30pm

This is online event on Zoom.

Please register on Eventbrite.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/east-london-inquest-community-meeting-tickets-244595410457

Join Us!

We are going to launch a recruitment campaign in 2022.

What We Do | 20th Anniversary | 3m

 

LGBT+ HATE CRIME STATS SUMMARY | JULY 2021 | PODCAST WITH SUBTITLES

Hate incidents are incidents reported to the police but do not involve a criminal offence. Hate offences reported to the police are criminal offences which may also be a hate incident. Sanction detections are incidents or criminal offences "solved" or "actioned" in some way by the police.