What will it take to get police to actually keep us safe?

Content Warning: rape, violence, racism, homophobia, misogyny

by Hazel Rain

The Metropolitan Police has proven itself to be institutionally racist, sexist and homophobic - in alignment with the system of policing in many countries across the world.

A 363-page report created by Louise Casey found that in the culture of Britain’s biggest police force, discrimination is “not dealt with and has become baked into the system”.

She began this report after Wayne Couzens, a member of the force, kidnapped, raped and murdered Sarah Everard in 2021.

She states, “Everyone within the Met […] now needs to recognise that its failings go well beyond the actions of ‘bad apple’ officers,” whilst the Met allows the actions to continue.

The report includes messages and WhatsApp exchanges that show the ways in which the majority of Met Police bond: through misogyny, racism, homophobia, and abuse.

Officers based at their Charing Cross station made harmful claims in these messages, which were dismissed as “commonplace” and “just banter”.

Statements included:

“That's alright, [domestic violence] victims love it. That's why they are repeat victims more often than not.”

“Getting a woman into bed is like spreading butter. It can be done with a bit of effort using a credit card, but it's quicker and easier just to use a knife.”

“You ever slapped your missus? It makes them love you more. . .Knock a bird about and she will love you. Human nature. They are biologically programmed to like that shit.”

In addition to messages, personal accounts were made about discrimination within the workplace of the Metropolitan Police.

A Muslim Met police officer stated, “I found bacon left in my boots inside my locked locker. I was horrified,” and a female police officer stated that when women join the police, “they are immediately targeted by men competing to sleep with them.” A queer officer also shared that their response team was obsessed with their sex life in an extremely offensive way.

Policing is a fundamentally abusive practice that seemingly brings more harm to communities than peace.

This report for the Metropolitan police force is one example of an entire system of policing across countries, where discrimination is rewarded and brutality is dismissed.

“Good cops” cannot exist within this system where the only people safe from discrimination are straight, white men.

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