Met Police promises - including counter-terror tactics to target ‘100 most dangerous’ sexual offenders

The Metropolitan Police has published a £366 million, two-year plan in a bid to increase trust in the force, reduce crime and raise policing standards.

In March the Casey Review was published, finding the force as “institutionally racist, sexist and homophobic”.

Baroness Louise Casey was appointed to review the force’s culture and standards after the abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by serving police officer Wayne Couzens in 2021.

During the course of her review, another Met officer, David Carrick, was convicted of a series of rapes, sexual offences and torture of women.

Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley rejected the use of the word “institutional” by Baroness Casey, claiming it has been politicised. But he says he is committed to the “painful process” of cleaning up the Met Police.

‘Community crime fighting, culture change and fixing foundations’

Here is what the Met Police is promising Londoners over the next two years:

• The Met wants Londoners to know their local officers and work with them to help shape their policing priorities, to reduce crime and to tackle anti-social behaviour.
• When victims call for help the force wants them to be satisfied with the response.
• It promises to keep serious violence low.
• It promises to solve more rapes, domestic violence, child abuse and other cases of predatory offending, and says it will target the most dangerous offenders to take them off the streets before they can offend again.
• It says it will reduce disproportionality when crime, and its use of powers, falls unevenly across London’s communities.
• Those who fall short of high standards will be dealt with swiftly and robustly, it says.

Cambridge Crime Harm Index

The Met said it is using tactics used against terrorists to catch the 100 worst predators targeting women in London. The force said a system assessing 35,000 offenders reported each year for crimes against females is being used.

The Cambridge Crime Harm Index is the first system to measure the seriousness of crime harm to victims, rather than just the number of recorded crimes.

It is an “evidence-based approach using how recent the allegation is, frequency of allegations and severity of offending”, according to the force, which says no suspects are included based on police intelligence alone.

The suspects are being targeted with a combination of local and specialist teams, using tactics “typically reserved for countering terrorists and organised criminals”.

The force said in a statement: “Our approach will be to target the 100 most dangerous and work down. Our stack is constantly changing. We know we can’t stop offending by only focusing on these 100, but we also know they pose a disproportionate threat to others.”

Met Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley

Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: “I care deeply about this mission and I’ve been candid from day one about the scale of reform needed to make it a success. Our people want to better serve the public and have been calling for change.

“We want the public to trust in the work we’re doing, to see how we’re fighting crime in their communities and how we’re keeping people safe.

“The data tells us that the majority of Londoners still trust us, more so than many other professions, but in recent years, confidence has fallen sharply and trust has been dented. We must repair that.

“The progress we have already made is positive and should not be overlooked, but we know just how much more there is to do.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Londoners will rightly judge this plan on actions not words, and I will be unflinching in holding the Met and the Commissioner to account and supporting him to deliver. The Met has many committed, professional police officers and staff who want to be part of this change.

“I see police reform as a critical part of my mayoralty and I will not be satisfied until Londoners have the police service they deserve – one that is trusted, representative of London and delivers the highest possible service to every community in our city as we continue to build a safer London for everyone.”

Victims’ commissioner

London’s victims’ commissioner, Claire Waxman OBE, said: "A New Met for London clearly sets out how the Met plans to turn around the force and deliver for Londoners, but there is no time to lose, as they need to quickly and effectively improve their support to the thousands of victims they interact with on a daily basis."

Susan Hall AM, City Hall Conservatives

Susan Hall AM, City Hall Conservatives Police and Crime spokesman, said: “I welcome Sir Mark Rowley’s plan to tackle rising crime in London and restore trust and confidence in the Met Police. It is absolutely essential that people have faith in their police force and that the institutional issues are rooted out, so that the many excellent police officers can continue their work.

“Londoners expect their mayor to take accountability for failings on their watch; Sadiq Khan has been London’s Police and Crime Commissioner for nearly 8 years and is ultimately responsible for policing in London. He must focus his attention on making sure London is safe for all who live, work and visit here.”