The Metropolitan Police is once again under intense scrutiny after a series of disturbing revelations involving its officers surfaced this October. In two separate but equally alarming cases, the force finds itself grappling with allegations of criminal conduct, gross misconduct, and a deeply eroded public trust. Both incidents—one involving the sharing of child abuse messages by a serving officer, and the other exposing a culture of racism, sexism, and violence among a group of officers at Charing Cross police station—underscore the scale of the crisis facing Britain’s largest police force.
According to BBC News, PC Duncan Bouette, a Metropolitan Police officer, has been charged with two counts under the Obscene Publications Act. The charges stem from messages allegedly shared by Bouette on November 18, 2024, which referenced the sexual abuse of children. The messages are also said to contain references to extreme, violent sexual practices. Bouette was arrested on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, and immediately suspended from duty while in police custody. He was formally charged the following day, Wednesday, October 8, 2025. The Met’s directorate of professional standards has been informed of the case, and Bouette is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, October 16, 2025.
The gravity of the allegations against Bouette cannot be overstated. The Obscene Publications Act, under which he is charged, is designed to protect the public from the distribution of material that could cause harm, particularly to children. The fact that a serving police officer is accused of such offenses has sent shockwaves through the force and the wider community. The Met has moved swiftly to suspend Bouette, but the case raises troubling questions about the vetting, monitoring, and oversight of those entrusted to uphold the law.
As the Met was reeling from this revelation, another scandal broke—this time involving a group of ten officers who are now facing accelerated disciplinary proceedings. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) announced that these officers, who were secretly filmed by a BBC Panorama documentary, were captured making racist and sexist comments, as well as bragging about violence against suspects. The IOPC said it found sufficient evidence of clear breaches of police standards of professional behaviour, and the misconduct hearings are expected to take place by the end of October 2025.
The undercover footage, gathered for BBC Panorama, shows officers at Charing Cross police station engaging in conversations that have horrified many. One officer, PC Phil Neilson, was recorded referring to an immigrant who had overstayed his visa, saying, "Either put a bullet through his head or deport him. And the ones that shag women, rape women, you do the cock and let them bleed out." In another clip, while drinking at a pub off-duty, Neilson described Algerians and Somalians as "scum." The language is not just offensive—it points to a culture of casual racism and dehumanization within the ranks.
Another officer, PC Martin Borg, is seen bragging about a colleague stamping on a detainee’s leg and laughing about the suspect’s screams. Borg also appears to offer to fill in a false witness statement about the incident, further undermining the integrity of police procedures and the justice system itself. These are not isolated comments made in private; they were repeated and, in some cases, boasted about to an undercover reporter, suggesting a wider normalization of such behaviour.
The group facing disciplinary action comprises eight serving Met officers—including three police sergeants and five police constables—along with a former Met constable and a Gloucestershire Police constable who previously served with the Met. Within 48 hours of the allegations being passed to the IOPC by Panorama, nine officers and one staff member were suspended. Two more officers were removed from frontline duties, and one officer remains under criminal investigation for perverting the course of justice.
Rachel Watson, director general of the IOPC, did not mince words: "We were appalled by some of the behaviour and conduct displayed by a group of Met officers based at Charing Cross in the documentary. The public would rightly expect swift action being taken to remove officers who have no place in policing and a large team of investigators from across the country have been working at pace to analyse the evidence." Watson also called on the BBC to provide any relevant untransmitted material to support the ongoing investigation. "This sends a clear message that the type of behaviour seen in the documentary is taken extremely seriously and immediate action will be taken to enable the forces to dismiss officers at the earliest opportunity, where appropriate," she stated, as reported by PA Media.
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley welcomed the IOPC’s decision for accelerated misconduct hearings. He emphasized the urgency, saying, "I have been very clear from the outset that I wanted to see all those responsible for this appalling behaviour facing gross misconduct hearings at the earliest opportunity. They have no place in the Met." Rowley revealed that after witnessing the Panorama footage, he personally requested the fast-track approach: "After watching Panorama last week and seeing the behaviour for myself, I requested the early consideration of accelerated misconduct hearings, and I welcome the IOPC's decision to pursue this course of action." According to the Met, the hearings will be held by the end of the month.
These two cases—one criminal, one disciplinary—highlight deep-seated issues within the Metropolitan Police. The force, which has faced repeated scandals in recent years, is under pressure to demonstrate that it can root out those who abuse their power or betray public trust. Critics argue that these incidents are symptomatic of a broader cultural problem, where racism, sexism, and abuse of authority are allowed to fester unchecked. Others point to the swift action taken by the Met and the IOPC as evidence that the system can work when there is political and public will.
The implications go far beyond the individuals involved. For the public, confidence in policing is shaken every time such stories emerge. For the thousands of honest, hardworking officers serving in the Met, these scandals are a source of shame and frustration. And for those tasked with reforming the institution, the challenge is daunting: how to rebuild trust, enforce standards, and ensure that those who wear the badge do so with integrity?
As the hearings approach and the criminal case against PC Bouette moves through the courts, all eyes will be on the Met’s leadership and oversight bodies. The outcomes will serve as a litmus test for the force’s commitment to accountability—and may well shape the future of policing in London for years to come.
