London Police Win Vetting Appeal
London's Metropolitan Police won an appeal allowing the force to consider all misconduct allegations, including unproven ones, during its officer vetting process. The decision is intended to enhance public trust, though it has sparked debate about the potential for bias in vetting procedures.
- The legal challenge was initiated by Sergeant Lino Di Maria after the Met removed his vetting clearance based on a series of unproven allegations, including rape and domestic abuse, which he denies. The Met Police Federation, the staff association for rank-and-file officers, supported and funded this initial legal challenge, arguing that dismissal based on unproven claims circumvents the right to a fair hearing. - The Court of Appeal's ruling overturned a February 2025 High Court decision which found it was unlawful to dismiss an officer simply for having their vetting clearance withdrawn. The appeal judges determined that vetting is an assessment of future risk and does not require a specific event to be proven as fact, allowing a broader range of information to be considered. - This vetting overhaul is part of a wider effort to address systemic cultural problems within the force, following the damning 2023 Casey Review. The review found the Met to be institutionally racist, misogynistic, and homophobic, with a misconduct system that failed to root out bad officers. - The Casey Review highlighted significant racial disproportionality, finding that in 2021-22, Black officers were 81% more likely than their white colleagues to face internal misconduct allegations. The review also found that over a ten-year period, 1,809 officers had more than one misconduct case against them, but only 13 had been dismissed. - Prior to this ruling, the cost of keeping London police officers suspended on full pay due to various allegations was estimated at £7 million annually. As of September 2023, over 1,000 Metropolitan Police officers were suspended or on restricted duties. - The initial High Court ruling had left the Met in what Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley described as a "hopeless position," potentially costing millions per year to pay officers who were deemed unfit to serve but could not be dismissed. This appeal was seen by the force as essential for removing officers who corrupt its integrity. - In response to the crisis, the Home Secretary announced plans to make it easier for police chiefs to sack rogue officers, including a presumption of dismissal for those found guilty of gross misconduct. The College of Policing has also introduced new national guidance, including mandatory re-vetting for officers. - The Police Federation has voiced concerns that the new vetting guidance from the College of Policing is "badly drawn up" and lacks a fair appeals process, potentially destroying careers based on unsubstantiated information and breaching human rights.
