On September 12, 2025, the Metropolitan Police suspended nine officers and removed two others from frontline duties, following a BBC investigation that cast a harsh spotlight on Charing Cross police station in central London. The dramatic move came after a series of serious allegations surfaced, including excessive use of force, discriminatory and misogynistic comments, and a failure to report or challenge inappropriate behaviour by officers. These accusations, which cover incidents both on and off duty between August 2024 and January 2025, have triggered a sweeping inquiry by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
The officers at the heart of the scandal range in rank from police constable to sergeant. The IOPC’s investigation encompasses 11 current or former Metropolitan Police officers and one staff member, all based at Charing Cross. Among them are nine currently serving officers, a former officer who has since transferred to another force, and a designated detention officer. According to the IOPC, the allegations were so grave that the Met referred itself to the watchdog, and the IOPC also received a referral from another police force regarding the transferred officer’s conduct.
The BBC’s investigation, which will be detailed in an upcoming Panorama documentary, prompted the Met to act swiftly. Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist described the alleged behaviour as “disgraceful” and outlined a series of immediate and assertive measures. “Nine officers were suspended within 24 hours of the allegations being assessed and another two officers have been removed from frontline duties,” Twist stated. He further explained, “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.”
Twist didn’t mince words about the scale of the problem, acknowledging that “the leadership of these teams failed to create the right culture that identified warning signs or generated confidence in junior colleagues to report.” He called the dismantling of the current custody team at Charing Cross an “exceptional reset” designed to ensure the highest standards and restore public trust. “We will be relentless, leaving no stone unturned, in removing people who have no place in the Met,” he added.
The IOPC’s director, Amanda Rowe, echoed these concerns, highlighting the public’s understandable alarm in light of previous scandals at the same police station. “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,” Rowe said. She promised a “robust, independent investigation” and confirmed that the IOPC had written to a third party—who initially alerted the Met to the allegations—requesting urgent information that would be central to the inquiry. “Our priority at this stage is to secure all of the relevant evidence,” Rowe said.
The allegations themselves are varied and deeply troubling. They include not only excessive use of force while on duty, but also discriminatory and misogynistic comments made both on and off duty. The accusations further extend to officers who failed to report or challenge inappropriate behaviour among their peers, raising questions about the culture of accountability within the station. While some previous scandals at Charing Cross focused on offensive WhatsApp groups, the current investigation’s primary concern is direct conduct and actions, rather than digital communications.
This is not the first time Charing Cross police station has found itself embroiled in controversy. In 2022, a damning IOPC report revealed that officers stationed there had exchanged highly offensive messages, including repeated jokes about rape, domestic violence, violent racism, homophobic language, and derogatory terms for disabled people. The IOPC took the unusual step of publishing the messages in full, describing the behaviour it uncovered as “disgraceful.” The 2022 scandal involved 19 individuals and contributed to a cascade of damaging headlines for the Met, ultimately prompting the resignation of then-commissioner Dame Cressida Dick in February 2022.
According to The Guardian, the previous scandal at Charing Cross included graphic messages about hitting and raping women, the deaths of Black babies, and the Holocaust. One officer implicated at the time was even promoted, a move that drew widespread condemnation and intensified scrutiny of the Met’s internal culture. Mark Rowley, Dame Cressida Dick’s successor, has since vowed to transform the culture of Britain’s largest police force, but the latest revelations suggest that deep-rooted issues remain.
The BBC reports that the new allegations, which emerged from an undercover investigation, have caused further embarrassment for the Met’s leadership. The rapid suspensions and referral to the IOPC demonstrate a markedly more assertive response than in previous years. Yet, as of now, neither the Met nor the IOPC has direct possession of the evidence containing the latest allegations, underscoring the early and evolving nature of the inquiry.
London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, who holds oversight of the Met alongside the Home Secretary, expressed his outrage at the recent developments. “Sexism, racism and misogyny must have no place in the police, and [Khan] has spoken to the commissioner directly today about this matter,” a spokesperson said. “The mayor has been consistent that there must be zero tolerance of this kind of behaviour, and there can be no hiding place for those who abuse their position of trust. The mayor will continue to work with and hold the commissioner to account to ensure Londoners get the police service they deserve.”
The IOPC has emphasized the seriousness of the situation and the need for public reassurance. “We want to reassure the public that we will carry out a robust, independent investigation,” Rowe stated, adding that further information would be shared as the investigation progresses. For now, the focus is on securing all relevant evidence and ensuring that the inquiry is thorough and impartial.
The Met, meanwhile, is under no illusions about the challenge ahead. “The Met has been steadily regaining the trust of Londoners, but we are under no illusions about the continued challenge we face,” Assistant Commissioner Twist remarked. The force’s leadership has made clear that it will not tolerate behaviour that fails to meet the organisation’s standards of professionalism and integrity. Immediate action has already been taken, and further steps are promised as the full implications of the allegations are assessed.
The unfolding events at Charing Cross police station serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle to instil accountability, professionalism, and respect within policing. As the IOPC’s investigation continues, the eyes of London—and indeed, the nation—remain fixed on the Met’s next moves, hoping for meaningful change in a force that has too often found itself at the centre of controversy.
