Ex-Met chief urges reform to root out misogyny left in ‘corners of policing'

DRAMATIC change is needed to root out misogyny and the remnants of a “Life on Mars” culture in parts of policing, Britain’s former top counter-terror officer warned today as a new report accused the Met of not doing enough to stop knife killings.

- Martin Bentham

Sir Mark Rowley said the murder of Sarah Everard in March and revelations since then had shown “there is a cultural issue in some corners of policing ” that must be tackled for forces to maintain public trust. He suggested that problems were present in “certain specialist units” — in an apparent reference to the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection unit that Ms Everard’s killer Wayne Couzens served in — and that reforms should include better ways for whistleblowers to raise the alarm. Home Secretary Priti Patel last week announced an inquiry into issues raised by the conviction of Couzens, who was sentenced to a full-life term for the kidnap, rape and murder of Ms Everard. The inquiry will look for missed opportunities to stop Couzens, as well as at vetting and workplace behaviour in the Met and other forces.

A separate review will be conducted for the Met by Baroness Casey.