A recent internal review of the Metropolitan Police Service reveals that discrimination, particularly against Black staff, is deeply embedded within the force’s human resources systems, leadership, governance, and culture. Authored by Shereen Daniels, the report titled 30 Patterns Of Harm: A Structural Review Of Systemic Racism Within The London Metropolitan Police Service asserts that racism is “baked” into the institutional design of the Met, perpetuating racial harm and impeding genuine reform. This review underscores that plans to address these issues often fail because they attempt only to manage the perception of racism rather than tackling the underlying power structures that sustain it.
The consultancy HR Rewired, commissioned to conduct the review, found systemic bias where darker-skinned staff are disproportionately labelled as confrontational, while lighter-skinned colleagues may be afforded quicker empathy and leniency. This evidence aligns with over four decades of prior investigations that have repeatedly documented how racism has shaped both the Met’s interactions with Black communities and the experiences of Black officers and employees within the institution. The report stresses that addressing anti-Blackness is crucial not just for tackling racial inequity but for confronting other forms of organisational dysfunction as well.
The Metropolitan Police acknowledged the report and the scale of challenges it outlines. Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley described Dr Daniels' findings as “powerful” and highlighted the necessity for further systemic, structural, and cultural change. He emphasised ongoing initiatives like New Met for London and the London Race Action Plan as steps toward becoming an actively anti-racist organisation. Despite the improvements, trust indicators show that Black Londoners still report significantly lower confidence in the Met compared to other groups, a gap the force is committed to closing through sustained listening and action.
This latest examination of the Met follows the high-profile Casey Review published in 2023, which came after the murder of Sarah Everard by serving officer Wayne Couzens. That report concluded the force was institutionally racist, misogynistic, and homophobic, revealing a culture marked by defensiveness and denial that hampers necessary reform efforts. It called for radical, fundamental changes to rebuild public trust and overhaul the organisation's recruitment, vetting, and cultural standards. The Casey Review’s findings echo those of earlier landmark investigations, including the MacPherson Report of 1999, which first officially labelled the Met as institutionally racist following its mishandling of the Stephen Lawrence case.
The persistence of these systemic issues within one of the UK’s most prominent policing bodies highlights the urgent need for sustained, targeted measures. For nearly fifty years, the Metropolitan Police has faced repeated scrutiny and calls for change, yet the cycle of harm remains entrenched. Daniels advocates for specificity in addressing the harms, cautioning against broad rhetoric about “ethnic minorities” or “diversity” that can obscure the particular experiences of Black individuals most affected by structural racism.
In parallel with these cultural and systemic critiques, the Met’s recent disclosure of race discrimination complaints and grievances between 2019 and 2023 provides tangible data on the prevalence of racial issues within the service. Although these reports showcase a willingness to acknowledge internal problems, they also underline the depth and persistence of discrimination that Black staff continue to face daily.
The cumulative evidence from these reports paints a stark picture of an institution struggling to transform itself amid longstanding patterns of exclusion and injustice. As Commissioner Rowley and Black community leaders urge, meaningful leadership discipline and accountability will be essential for the force not only to protect the public but also to reform itself from within.
📌 Reference Map:
- [1] (Daily Star) - Paragraphs 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8
- [2] (DW) - Paragraph 3, 5
- [3] (Washington Post) - Paragraph 3, 5
- [4] (Irish Times) - Paragraph 5
- [5] (The National News) - Paragraph 5
- [6] (Met Police) - Paragraph 7
- [7] (Saunders & Co) - Paragraph 5
Source: Noah Wire Services