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The Metropolitan Police is reeling from an explosive new crisis following a BBC Panorama undercover investigation that allegedly filmed officers at a central London station expressing support for far-right activist Tommy Robinson, making virulent anti-Muslim and anti-female comments, and using excessive force against suspects in custody.
The footage, which is set to air in a documentary on Wednesday, was gathered by an undercover BBC reporter who obtained a civilian staff role—a designated detention officer—within the custody suite at Charing Cross Police Station between August 2024 and January 2025.
Nine Officers Suspended and Criminal Probe Launched
In a swift and decisive response, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has suspended nine serving officers just ahead of the documentary's broadcast. The Met's independent watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), has launched a major investigation into the allegations.
The IOPC confirmed that a total of 11 individuals—including current and former Met officers and one civilian staff member—are now under investigation for potential gross misconduct. Crucially, one of the suspended officers, a Police Constable, is also facing a criminal investigation on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.
Allegations being examined by the watchdog include:
- Excessive use of force on suspects, including a youngster, while in custody.
- Making discriminatory, anti-Muslim, and misogynistic comments, both on and off duty.
- Failing to report or challenge inappropriate behaviour.
The IOPC's Director, Amanda Rowe, stated the organisation is seeking to obtain the full evidence from the BBC and has already appealed within the Met for staff who previously worked at the station to come forward, with several reports already received.
Commissioner Rowley on Damage Control
Met bosses were reportedly notified of the broad claims two weeks ago, plunging the force into crisis mode. Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, who replaced Cressida Dick in 2022 with a vow to reform the beleaguered force, has cancelled scheduled engagements to manage the fallout.
In an immediate, assertive step, the Met confirmed it has disbanded the entire custody team at Charing Cross, moving the officers elsewhere in the force, and has significantly changed the leadership covering the station. The force issued a strongly worded statement, calling the allegations, if true, "disgraceful" and amounting to “criminality and misconduct.”
Despite the gravity of the revelations, Sir Mark Rowley's position is not currently believed to be under threat, with London Mayor Sadiq Khan reportedly satisfied with the robust and swift action taken by the Commissioner.
A Familiar and Haunting Location
The Charing Cross station is an infamous focal point in the Met's history of misconduct. It was the centre of a massive scandal in 2019 after a previous IOPC report revealed officers, many of whom worked at the station, had exchanged shocking messages about hitting and raping women, the death of Black babies, and the Holocaust. That exposé ultimately led to the resignation of then-Commissioner Cressida Dick in 2022.
The recurrence of such behaviour, despite the force's promise of a cultural clean-up, highlights the systemic challenge facing Britain's largest police force and its ongoing struggle to earn public trust and confidence. The full details of the undercover filming are expected to send new shockwaves through the Met's leadership upon broadcast.
