Guardian

Record number of UK police forces are failing and need intensive help

The Guardian view on policing in crisis: the Met needs a superhead | Editorial

England and Wales police have sacked 593 officers in the year ending March 2024, up 50% from the previous year. Some 12.5% of them were dismissed over sexual misconduct and many for sharing offensive WhatsApp messages about rape, domestic violence, and killing black children.

Daily Mail

The College of Policing's Police Barred List shows 125 cases of dishonesty — reportedly the most common reason for being sacked. Eighteen of those removed possessed indecent images of children. Most sackings were reported in Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police.

Sky News

Some 88% of those barred from law enforcement roles were constables, according to the College of Policing, which lays down policing standards. In January 2023, the Metropolitan Police was reportedly probing 1,071 officers for domestic abuse and violence against women and girls.

INQUIRER.net

Assistant Chief Constable Tom Harding of the College, while expressing huge disappointment at officers' conduct "falling far below the standard that we set," said the spike in dismissals showed robust procedures to weed out offenders from among the UK’s 147K-strong police force.

Newscentral.Africa

The College's figure's showed that 530 of those sacked were of white ethnicity and 79 of black or ethnic minority. Also, an overwhelming 491 were male and 97 female. Harding said these figures show "there is nowhere to hide for people who fail to meet the high standards."

Jersey Evening Post

Policing has come under intense scrutiny in the UK in recent years following multiple disturbing incidents. The 2021 murder of one Sarah Everard by an officer raised serious questions on the policing culture. Another officer was found to have been involved in 71 sexual offences.

Guardian #3948

Guardian #3240

A total of six police forces, including Cleveland, Greater Manchester, Gloucestershire, Staffordshire, and Wiltshire, are currently under special measures, representing the highest number of simultaneously failing forces ever recorded.

The Metropolitan Police's placement into special measures comes after fourteen new failings were uncovered by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in a yet-to-be-published inspection report.

Former Commissioner Cressida Dick departed in February after London Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed lack of confidence in her plans to address the force's ongoing crises.

Two candidates remain in contention for the Met Commissioner position: Mark Rowley, former head of counter-terrorism, and Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave, who managed London's local policing.

The appointment of the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner is expected in July, with the final decision made by the Home Secretary while considering the London Mayor's views.

The Conservative government's massive cuts over twelve years have resulted in the loss of 21,000 experienced officers nationwide, forcing their replacement with newer, inexperienced personnel, despite City Hall's efforts to maintain staffing levels.

Record Six UK Police Forces Now in Special Measures

United Kingdom

Crime & justice

Police brutality and misconduct

In the heart of Britain's policing crisis lies a system so deeply corrupted by institutional misogyny and indifference to sexual violence that it actively shields predators within its ranks while routinely dismissing survivors. The 2021 Sarah Everard case exposed a whole rotting tree and not just a few bad apples. The pattern is chilling: thousands of allegations of violence against women and girls, systemic failure to investigate them, and turning a blind eye so normalized. Such police negligence paves the way for preventable tragedies.

Al Jazeera

The problem with British policing is not ‘just a few bad apples’

Despite challenging conditions, British police staff have shown remarkable dedication to maintaining public safety. Working through low pay, heavy workloads, and mounting stress, they continue to provide essential support to officers, ensuring the smooth operation of law enforcement. Many face serious morale issues yet persist, demonstrating commitment and resilience. Improved wages, reduced workload, and mental health support are key maintaining the quality of British policing.

UNISON National

Police staff at breaking point over low pay, soaring workloads and high stress

There is a 1% chance a large American city will fully abolish their police department before 2035, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

UK: Nearly 600 England And Wales Cops Sacked

RecordUK: SixNearly UK600 PoliceEngland ForcesAnd NowWales inCops Special MeasuresSacked

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

Articles on this story

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters