Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, has stated he will not resign following the release of undercover BBC Panorama footage that reveals racist, misogynistic, and violent behaviour among officers at Charing Cross police station. Describing the footage as 'vile to watch', Rowley said it provides 'incontrovertible evidence' to support fast-track dismissal for those involved.
The footage shows officers making discriminatory comments and glorifying excessive force. One officer, PC Phil Neilson, was filmed suggesting violence against immigrants, while another, PC Martin Borg, bragged about a colleague stamping on a detainee's leg. Nine serving officers, one former officer, and one civilian staff member are under investigation for gross misconduct by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called on Rowley to demonstrate a 'very robust' response to the 'shocking' footage. Rowley, however, rejected claims that the Met is institutionally racist or misogynistic, as found by the 2023 Casey review. He insisted the force is 'on top' of the problem, having expelled nearly 1,500 officers in the last three years and using counter-terrorism tactics to root out 'toxic networks'.
Rowley added that the toxic officers themselves want him to resign, saying: 'Those are the misogynist and racist officers who want me out because it's them who we are taking on.' He vowed to continue his efforts to reform the Met, stating: 'I'm not resigning. We're partway through a determined effort.'
