Toxic culture in the Met: No more excuses

We share the public’s horror at the findings of Panorama’s undercover investigation into Charing Cross Police Station. But we are not shocked. What we saw confirms what women, Black and minoritised communities, and LGBTQ+ people have been saying for years. A toxic culture persists in policing. 

The scenes in the documentary were disturbing, but they reflect a reality that is all too familiar. The 2023 Casey Report was clear: the Met is institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic. Panorama’s findings don’t reveal new problems, they show that those problems continue and that the systems in place to challenge them are not working. 

This is not about a few bad apples. In just three years, the Met has removed 1,500 officers. As Commissioner Mark Rowley himself described it, this is "part of the biggest counter-corruption initiative policing has ever seen." But Panorama reveals that even with scrutiny high, officers at the top of frontline policing still feel free to harass, demean and abuse with impunity. There is no fear of consequences and no sign of cultural change. 

History Repeating

In 2023, Fawcett met with Commissioner Rowley to press for urgent reforms: clear oversight and accountability, centring women’s voices in change, building trust across London’s communities, and going beyond individual misconduct to tackle systemic culture. But little has changed. 

Women, Black and minoritised communities, and LGBTQ+ people continue to be failed, whether they are police staff or members of the public. The Met still allows environments where sexually explicit "jokes", misogynistic slurs, and dismissal of survivors are brushed off as banter. This isn’t workplace culture. It is sexual harassment and it is unlawful. But too often, it goes unchallenged in policing.” 

We must also acknowledge the officers who do uphold the highest standards and work to protect communities every day. They need robust whistleblower protections and a system that supports, not silences, those who challenge abuse. 

It is unacceptable that women and minoritised people are expected to work within - or seek justice from - a culture steeped in racism and sexism. Women’s rights are not yet secured. Equality is not yet won. And every day, women go about their lives carrying the weight of fear, knowing this culture is not just tolerated, but embedded. 

Misogyny across society 

This isn’t only about the Met. These attitudes reflect a wider pattern in society. But the Met sets the tone for policing across the UK. Its failure to reform sends a dangerous message. 

We need the Metropolitan Police to acknowledge the institutional nature of the problem. We need stronger oversight, real accountability, and zero tolerance for sexism and racism. And we need it now. 

Fawcett stands ready to support this work. We are going to work with partner organisations to demand greater transparency and action to tackle misogyny in the Met. If you want to follow this project, sign up for our newsletter to find out more and get in touch with us if you want to get involved.

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