Met officers filmed 'backing Tommy Robinson' and 'making anti-Muslim comments' in explosive documentary

A Panorama documentary, airing on Wednesday, will show the alleged incidents taking place at Charing Cross police station in central London between August 2024 and January this year.

Met bosses are believed to be rocked by the allegations, with commissioner Sir Mark Rowley on damage control as he attempts to show he is cutting out toxic cultures from Britain's largest force.

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The police chief was sent the broad allegations by the programme-makers two weeks ago, but the full details of what the filming uncovers is yet to be revealed.

Responding to the programme's claims, the Met has suspended nine serving officers, while its watchdog launched a major investigation, with one officer under criminal investigation.

Material in the programme claims to show an officer making supportive comments of right-wing activist Robinson, which was filmed by an undercover BBC reporter working as a member of civilian staff.

They also allegedly filmed officers using excessive force against suspects held at the police station, including one youngster, as well as anti-Muslim comments and anti-female comments.

The Charing Cross station was also the centre of a police scandal in 2019, after an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) revealed horrific details of officers, many of whom worked at the central London station, sharing messages about hitting and raping women, the death of black babies and the Holocaust.

The fall-out led to the the ousting of then commissioner Cressida Dick in 2022.

Rowley, who replaced Dick in office and vowed to restore the Met's public image, has cancelled some scheduled engagements on Thursday to deal with the expected fallout from the revelations.

His position is not believed to be in danger, as London mayor Sadiq Khan was reportedly satisfied in how his police chief had dealt with the allegations.

Rowley's response included disbanding the custody team at Charing Cross, moving them elsewhere in the force.

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley told LBC: "The behaviour outlined in this programme is disgraceful, totally unacceptable and contrary to the values and standards displayed by thousands of brave Met officers and staff every day. No-one will be more appalled than them.

"We took immediate and unprecedented action to investigate these allegations and within 24 hours of them being recorded, eight officers and one staff member had been suspended, with two more officers removed from frontline duties.

“Since 2022 more than 1,400 officers have exited the Met for failing to meet our standards – representing the biggest clear-out in the force’s history. This was possible because hundreds of good officers and staff have stepped up and are making three times more reports about bad behaviour than they were three years ago. And for this I am grateful.

“But, as evidenced by this programme, much more needs to be done to tackle the individuals and cliques whose appalling behaviour continues to let down their colleagues and Londoners. Our resolve to identify, confront and get rid of them is absolute.”

Following the Charing Cross allegations, the IOPC said 11 individuals are currently under investigation for potential gross misconduct.

One of those is a police constable who is under criminal investigation on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

Amanda Rowe, the IOPC’s director, said: “As a result of our appeal within the Met, we have already had a number of police staff who previously worked at Charing Cross station contact us with information and we are following up each report.”