'I'm a realist': Cressida Dick acknowledges 'challenges' around sexism in the Met

20 October 2021, 18:59

Dame Cressida Dick said there are "challenges" around sexism in the force.
Dame Cressida Dick said there are "challenges" around sexism in the force. Picture: Getty

By Sophie Barnett

Dame Cressida Dick has admitted there are "challenges" around sexism in the Metropolitan Police, adding the force wants to bring those who fall below standards "to justice".

The Met Police chief gave evidence to the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee on Wednesday on the safety of women and girls in the capital, following the killing of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa.

When questioned about the issue of sexism within the force, Dame Cressida said: "I'm a realist. There's 44,000 people in the Met. We're drawn from society, which has challenges as we know around sexism.

"We must set higher standards, but there are occasions when people fall below those and we want to bring them to justice."

She told members of the committee that male violence against women is "far too common".

Read more: Police to review scale of drink spiking amid reports of women being injected at nightclubs

Read more: Plain-clothed Met cops to video call colleagues when stopping lone women

Plain clothes police officer to video call uniformed officers

The Met chief said the issue has been described by some people as "endemic" and said it is something everybody must get involved in tackling.

The commissioner added there is "no place in the Met for people who display racist, sexist, homophobic behaviour".

She also admitted the force has a "hill to climb" in order to regain the public's trust.

Following the murder of Sarah Everard, Baroness Casey of Blackstock will lead a review into the Metropolitan Police.

The review will scrutinise the force's vetting, recruitment, leadership, training and processes.

It is expected to take around six months, with the findings and recommendations published so that the force can "improve and make sure the public have more confidence" in police.

An "urgent examination" is also under way into all current investigations of sexual and domestic abuse allegations against Met police officers and staff.

Read more: Policing Minister: Cressida Dick is 'the right person for the job'

Meanwhile, at the Commons on Wednesday, Kit Malthouse suggested a "greater feminisation" of UK policing via the recruitment of more women as officers could help boost confidence in the police.

The Home Officer minister said more work needs to be done: "One of those processes, if you like, is what we're seeing at the moment with the uplift programme, which is a greater feminisation of UK policing.

"We've moved over the last 10 years from 25% of the force being female to just over a third, and we have a number of forces now that more than half of their new recruits are female.

"I hope that that progress will both mean women and girls feel the police force better reflects them and may result in better contemplation of these issues."

I've Been Spiked founder Mair Howells speaks to LBC's Shelagh Fogarty

The conversation around women's safety comes amid reports of terrifying incidents of people being "injected" with drugs at nightclubs across the country.

Priti Patel has now asked police to urgently assess the scale of drink spiking at nightclubs and parties following the reports.

The Home Secretary has asked forces for an update after some said they had seen more spiking incidents in recent months.

Mair Howells, founder of I've Been Spiked, told LBC that injecting women was particularly "terrifying" because there was "no way" to protect yourself.

She added that, because victims need to get tested so soon after the incident, there are likely many cases that are not reported.

"With spiking it's a massive grey area," she told LBC's Shelagh Fogarty.

Groups from more than 30 universities around the UK have joined an online campaign calling for the boycott of nightclubs, with campaigners seeking "tangible" changes to make them safer, such as covers/stoppers for drinks, better training for staff and more rigorous searches of clubbers.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Niamh Charles and Alex Greenwood of England battle for possession during a training session at St Georges Park.

England squad full of ‘winners’ ahead of Euros defence, says Lucy Bronze

Armed police descended on London Underground station following reports of 'man with firearm'

Armed police descended on London Underground station following reports of 'man with firearm'

An Israeli hospital was bombed on Thursday.

Iran’s leader ‘can no longer be allowed to exist,’ Israeli minister declares as strike launched on nuclear reactor

The technology is hoped to potentially improve treatment and quality of life for patients, by investigating a new way to scan glioblastoma brain tumour.

'Pioneering' new brain tumour scanner trialled in world-first

A local police report says a knifeman trespassed onto the self-proclaimed misogynist's property at around 2pm local time before knifing his 53-year-old worker in the arm

Andrew Tate employee stabbed during knife attack at Romanian compound

John Murray, 75, was pronounced dead at the scene, despite best efforts of emergency services.

'Defenceless' grandfather found 'beaten to death' in home as police launch murder investigation

Callaghan

'He left her completely broken': Man who raped 'bright young woman' who then took her own life jailed for decade

Bank Of England In The City Of London

Bank of England holds interest rates at 4.25% amid Middle East tensions and rising food prices

The road around Brixton Station will be pedestrianised, to make way for events and markets

Sir Sadiq Khan reveals the four London hotspots being pedestrianised this summer

Female Badger (Meles meles) in woodland, portrait. UK

Badger cull will not be extended, government confirms as it seeks 'holistic' strategy to eradicate bTB

Exclusive
The start of the Israel-Iran conflict caused the price of the benchmark Brent crude to rise more than 10 per cent last week, reaching its highest level since January

Former BP boss warns oil prices will stay 'volatile' amid escalating Middle East tensions

Qari Abdul Rauf (L) and Adil Khan (R) remain in the UK

Rochdale grooming gang ringleaders 'cannot be deported after tearing up Pakistan passports'

.

£4m Lotto win puts Harley-Davidson fan on the road to early retirement

(L-R) Alfie Williams, Jodie Comer, Danny Boyle and Aaron Taylor-Johnson attend the "28 Years Later" World Premiere at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square

Danny Boyle opens up about returning to the world of 28 Days Later as latest zombie film opens to glowing reviews

Mudryk has denied any wrongdoing, and has denied knowingly breaking any rules

Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk could face four-year ban after positive drug test

Ncuti Gatwa (left) and Dame Judi Dench (right) have signed the letter, published by refugee charity Choose Love, which calls on the Prime Minister to "use all available means" to ensure humanitarian aid gets in to Gaza.

Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa and Dame Judi Dench join open letter urging suspension of arms sales to Israel