That the police don't vet their officers

[OneTC]

And if not, why not?

www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-64289461

It's not just that they don't vet them, it's that they continue to employ them as serving officers, despite multiple accusations

Women can't trust the police.

I’m no fan of the Met but what could they have done? If he hadn’t been convicted of anything there’s nothing to vet.

Properly investigated any of the previous 9 allegations?

The vetting is clearly problematic. If no one has been accused of anything before taking up a role (police, nurse, teacher etc) then you’re not going to magically find out that they are potentially dodgy beforehand.

Not being further investigated for multiple accusations is shocking. But the blame doesn’t entirely rest fully with the Met - see what the new Commander is saying about the outside/independent bodies that are also making decisions about which officers stay and which get sacked.

Agree. I have absolutely no faith the the police whatsoever.

My niece has had it drummed into her, if she ever has a brush with them never ever cooperate in going anywhere or in any vehicle with male only police officers. Demand a female officer attends the scene.

The Met police are institutionally racist, misogynist and homophobic.

If they vet them they won’t have any left.

And we still see people who want police officers to have more power, we are also seeing people who want officers to essentially assault more people via stop and search.

Yes people say “they’re not all like that” but would someone who isn’t a racist sexist pig really want to join an organisation full of them?

Even though they were ‘only’ allegations, there were over 9 of them, it wasn’t even a case of one allegation of a minor crime, but over 9 allegations of very serious crimes, they’d be better recruiting actual prisonsers.

Carrick was an armed officer, giving a rapist access to weapons is a great idea, well done once again to the met.

A friend of mine failed her vetting because of connections to her ex husband and some issue with the naming across her passport / licence / deedpoll - which could have easily be resolved, it was a silly admin error on her part after a divorce.

She passed all interviews and tests and has never had so much as a parking fine in her life then failed on “third party” connection to someone no longer even in her life.

They're now opening up investigations into 1600 allegations made against other MET officers.

Carrick wasn't revetted according to processes, then when he was revetted they admit that it wasn't effective vetting. He was recently investigated in 2021 before being allowed back on duty before being suspended and arrested for the same allegation. Another one with a "joke" nickname because everyone he worked with knew what he was like

No woman should trust the police . What that creature did is appalling . The other horror is others still serving will have done the same. Or worse

Vetting is still done but is far less stringent. Back in the day, you’d never get in if you or a family member had ever been convicted of even something really minor. Now, because of the recruitment crisis, standards have frankly bottomed out.

As a woman, I do not trust the police. It’s an awful feeling. I hope I never have to have any dealings with them. They (West Yorkshire police) have been woefully inadequate the two times I have had to speak with them (a burglary and a rod traffic incident) and I felt very uncomfortable around them.

The advice above about asking for a female officer present - can they just refuse / lie and say one isn’t available?

Now, because of the recruitment crisis, standards have frankly bottomed out.

This is so true, and the starting pay is pretty rubbish too, like all public sector workers.

It feels like a vicious cycle at the moment - the same sort of vicious cycle that is affecting so many roles like this. Not enough investment means crap conditions, hiring anyone, work being substandard for so many reasons, all of that meaning they don’t become appealing jobs for people to join. And so the cycle continues…

I truly understand why people would rather a female officer in many situations but the knock on effect of that with current staffing levels is probably dangerous. Waiting for other officers to arrive means not responding to another job, which just decreases public trust, which makes the job even less appealing…

and men can ?

Just listening to discussion of this on The World at One. The first of many reports was made to the Met in 2003! As the allegations accumulated, why didn't they do anything to investigate?

Oh, you think it's important to detract from very real misogyny and make the problem of male violence smaller by saying but what about the men?

Sure. Worry about the men if that helps you. But as a woman I'm going to advise other women to not trust the police. Men, well they're not giving a shit what happens to me if they're the violent sort or the quiet sort. So why should I give a fuck? Lived experience.

The do vet them but it’s very much dependent on the person doing the vetting and how much has been reported previously.

Culture in all police forces, but in particular the Met, needs a radical change. I am at the point I think the Met should somehow be disbanded and started again it’s that bad. Every now and again you get a thread on here started by a police officer or a spouse and they are so defensive of any criticism of the police. The problems are endemic and they refuse to see it so it won’t change unless they are forced to change.

I worry about getting done over by the police, unfairly, which would be pretty crap but it beats being raped and murdered by a country mile

@MargaritMargo - this doesn’t surprise me either. I have heard of women being failed on things male officers get away with as well. Like female officers not passing driving requirements and when complaining getting told oh that’s just X he hates women drivers etc. The misogyny is endemic.

Because it’s a feature, not a bug.

They actively encourage the misogynistic behaviour and protect and egg each other on.

This will be the tip of a very big iceberg I think.

The police, especially the Met and South Wales forces, are a cess pit.

99 left to go. Although if they can't find them in their own house then good luck finding the others.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-64233293

"The Met Police will start using data to identify the 100 "most dangerous" men in London who prey on women and children.
**
The plans aim to gather data on tens of thousands of men recently convicted of domestic assault, rape, sex offences, stalking, and harassment."

They could have noted the multiple & repeated allegations, and declined to employ him in a position of trust.

As any decent employer would have done.

It's getting harder and harder to get people due to social media. Most people's social media has privacy settings and random user names, there are also soo many different social media platforms it makes it almost impossible.