A major internal investigation has been launched into officers at Charing Cross police station in central London where staff previously joked about raping women
Nine cops based at a police station where officers previously joked about raping women have been suspended over allegations of racist, homophobic and misogynist conduct.
The officers, who range in rank from police constable to sergeant, are also said to have used excessive force on prisoners. It reportedly follows an undercover investigation by the BBC in the custody suite at Charing Cross police station in central London.
The incidents are alleged to have occurred while the officers were both on and off duty between August 2024 and January 2025, the police watchdog said. Charing Cross police station was at the centre of the last of a string of damaging scandals to hit the Met that led former commissioner Dame Cressida Dick stepping down from her role in February 2022.
A report that year by the Independent Office for Police Conduct revealed officers had exchanged highly offensive messages, including repeated jokes about rape, domestic violence and violent racism as well as homophobic language and derogatory terms for disabled people. The new allegations come on the third anniversary of Sir Mark Rowley becoming commissioner with a mandate to address deep concerns over the culture within the organisation.
The IOPC said on Friday afternoon its latest inquiry follows a mandatory conduct referral from the Met the day before involving nine serving Met officers, a former Met officer and a serving designated detention officer. It also received a referral from another force about the conduct of a former Met officer based at Charing Cross who has since transferred.
IOPC director Amanda Rowe said of the new investigation: “These are concerning allegations involving a large number of individuals and we understand there will be public concern, particularly in light of our previous investigation into similar allegations at the same police station. We want to reassure the public that we will carry out a robust, independent investigation.
“We understand the Met was alerted to these allegations by a third party and we have written to that party to request that it urgently provides us with information that will be central to our inquiries. Our priority at this stage is to secure all of the relevant evidence.”
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said: “The behaviour as reported is disgraceful and nine officers were suspended within 24 hours of the allegations being assessed and another two officers have been removed from frontline duties. Rapid steps to secure evidence and protect the public have also been taken. We asked the IOPC to look at this and welcome their decision to take on the investigation.”
Mr Twist said the force is taking “immediate steps to dismantle the current custody team” at Charing Cross police station which he called an “exceptional reset” that will ensure high standards. He added: “In addition, we are scrutinising more widely the leadership and culture within these teams, led by Professional Standards and senior leaders, to root out any further failings.
“The leadership of these teams failed to create the right culture that identified warning signs or generated confidence in junior colleagues to report. This is one of the reasons we are taking such assertive exceptional action.”
Mr Twist continued: “The Met has been steadily regaining the trust of Londoners, but we are under no illusions about the continued challenge we face. We will be relentless, leaving no stone unturned, in removing people who have no place in the Met.”
A Police Federation England & Wales (PFEW) spokesperson said: “We are deeply concerned by reports about the behaviour of nine Metropolitan Police officers at Charing Cross police station. The nature of those allegations would, if accurate, describe conduct that is not only utterly unacceptable both in and outside of policing but also gravely impacts the public trust every police officer in the country depends on to do his or her job effectively.”
The IOPC said in the 2022 report that one officer bragged that he had hit his girlfriend, and told a colleague: “It makes them love you more”, while another boasted that he had repeatedly slept with a prostitute who he met while on duty. Homophobic language dismissed as “banter” included “f*** you bender”.
One racist officer posted about making dog food out of African children while offensive references were made about the Holocaust and Somalian people. One officer wrote: “Getting a woman in to bed is like spreading butter. It can be done with a bit of effort using a credit card, but it’s quicker and easier just to use a knife.” Another posted: “I would happily rape you” and “if I was single I would happily chloroform you”.