Nine Metropolitan Police officers based at Charing Cross police station in central London have been suspended as a sweeping investigation into allegations of racism, misogyny, homophobia, and excessive use of force unfolds, according to multiple reports from the BBC, The Guardian, and MyLondon. The probe, led by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), follows a mandatory referral from the Met Police on Thursday, September 11, 2025, and has cast a spotlight on a force still grappling with its past and present culture.
The allegations, which span from August 2024 to January 2025, involve not only the nine currently suspended officers—whose ranks range from police constable to sergeant—but also a former Met officer and a serving designated detention officer. The IOPC has also received a referral from another police force regarding the conduct of a former Charing Cross officer who has since transferred elsewhere. In total, the watchdog is scrutinizing the actions of 11 current or former Met officers and one staff member linked to the station.
The accusations are serious and varied: excessive use of force on prisoners, making discriminatory and misogynistic comments, racist and homophobic conduct, and, crucially, failing to report or challenge inappropriate behaviour. The IOPC noted that these incidents are alleged to have occurred both on and off duty, painting a troubling picture of the culture within the Charing Cross station.
This is not the first time Charing Cross has found itself at the center of scandal. In 2022, a damning IOPC report exposed a toxic environment where officers exchanged highly offensive messages. These messages included repeated jokes about rape, domestic violence, violent racism, homophobic language, and derogatory terms for disabled people. In one particularly disturbing example, an officer bragged about hitting his girlfriend, saying, "It makes them love you more," while another boasted about sleeping with a prostitute he met on duty. Other messages referenced the Holocaust, made racist jokes about African children, and used slurs dismissed as "banter." The 2022 revelations were so egregious that the IOPC took the unusual step of publishing the messages in full, calling the behaviour "disgraceful."
The fallout from the 2022 report was immediate and wide-reaching, contributing to the resignation of then-Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick in February 2022. At the time, the IOPC made clear that the incidents were “not isolated or simply the behaviour of a few bad apples,” but rather indicative of deeper systemic issues within the force.
Now, three years on from those scandals and just as Sir Mark Rowley marks his third anniversary as commissioner, the Met faces renewed scrutiny. The IOPC’s director, Amanda Rowe, addressed the public’s understandable concern, especially given the station’s history. “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. We want to reassure the public that we will carry out a robust, independent investigation. Our priority at this stage is to secure all of the relevant evidence,” she stated, as reported by The Guardian.
The IOPC’s inquiry was triggered after the Met was alerted to the allegations by a third party. The watchdog has since reached out to this individual, urging them to provide information that will be central to the investigation. The investigation, still in its early stages, is expected to be wide-ranging and thorough.
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist of the Met Police echoed the seriousness of the situation, describing the reported behaviour as "disgraceful." He confirmed that nine officers were suspended within 24 hours of the allegations being assessed, with two additional officers removed from frontline duties. “Rapid steps to secure evidence and protect the public have also been taken. We asked the IOPC to look at this and welcome their decision to take on the investigation,” Twist said in a statement, as cited by MyLondon and other outlets.
Twist announced an “exceptional reset” at Charing Cross, including the immediate dismantling of the custody team, significant changes to the leadership of the custody command, and a shake-up of the Westminster leadership team. “This is an exceptional reset and will ensure high standards,” he explained. The Met is also conducting a broader review of leadership and culture within these teams, led by Professional Standards and senior leaders, to root out any further failings. “The leadership of these teams failed to create the right culture that identified warning signs or generated confidence in junior colleagues to report. This is one of the reasons we are taking such assertive exceptional action,” Twist added.
The Met’s leadership has been unequivocal in its condemnation of the alleged behaviour. “The Met’s leadership has been very clear that it will not tolerate behaviour that fails to meet the organisation’s standards of professionalism and integrity. We have already taken immediate action and this will continue over the coming days as we assess the full implications,” Twist said. He acknowledged the ongoing challenge of regaining public trust, stating, “The Met has been steadily regaining the trust of Londoners, but we are under no illusions about the continued challenge we face. We will be relentless, leaving no stone unturned, in removing people who have no place in the Met.”
The Police Federation of England & Wales has also weighed in, expressing deep concern about the impact such behaviour has on public trust. A spokesperson remarked, “The nature of those allegations would, if accurate, describe conduct that is not only utterly unacceptable both in and outside of policing but also gravely impacts the public trust every police officer in the country depends on to do his or her job effectively.”
According to the Met, the number of officers and staff reporting concerns has increased threefold over the past three years, and the rate of those exited from the force has more than tripled, from 150 a year to 557 last year. This, the Met argues, is proof that efforts to encourage whistleblowing and root out misconduct are working, though the latest revelations show there is still a long way to go.
The IOPC has emphasized that the investigation is in its early stages and has promised to provide further information as it becomes available. For now, the Met is urging anyone with information about corrupt or improper behaviour by its officers or staff to come forward, underscoring the force’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
As the investigation unfolds, the spotlight remains firmly on Charing Cross and the wider Metropolitan Police. With public trust hanging in the balance and the shadow of past scandals looming large, the outcome of this inquiry will be closely watched—not just in London, but across the UK.
