Met apologise for 'sexist, derogatory' language when searching woman

[ArabellaScott]

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jan/24/met-apologises-to-academic-for-sexist-derogatory-language

'The Metropolitan police have apologised and paid compensation to an academic for “sexist, derogatory and unacceptable language” used by officers about her when she was strip-searched.'

'Duff was arrested on 5 May 2013 on suspicion of obstructing and assaulting police after trying to hand a legal advice card to a 15-year-old caught in a stop-and-search sweep in Hackney – allegations she was later cleared of in court. '

Is anyone going to do something about the police, at all?

A review into the Met: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/08/met-appoints-whitehall-troubleshooter-louise-casey-to-wipe-out-misogyny

Plus one from the Home Office. Good.

This is so vile. That poor woman was humiliated and I doubt anyone will lose their job for it. There are elements of the Met that seem rotten to the core.
I found that article really difficult to read as it was so disturbing and I only had to read it. I dread to think what they get away with.

It appears they openly lied and lied for years and got away with it until her own probing uncovered the recordings of everything they'd said and done. And these were women police officers involved
Mail also covering it:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10436053/Met-Police-apologise-philosophy-lecturer-ridiculed-strip-search.html

Nothing would have surprised me about the Met when I lived in Hackney. And they haven't improved in the years since I left it appears. Beyond depressing.

It's on the BBC news website too now

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-60118874

Sorry, I should maybe have put a content warning in - it is upsetting. That was only what was recorded, apparently, she says they said worse off-camera.

Bloody hell, it seems no-one has even been disciplined for it. And it must have been perfectly normal accepted behaviour

Absolutely disgusting behaviour from those police officers. Does anyone know what has happened to them?

Sexual Misconduct in the Met debated in the HoL:

hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2021-10-20/debates/54E8979A-56E6-4AD6-AEC4-C605509CFD3F/SexualMisconductInThePolice

'trust in the police is vital, yet over the past 11 years, more than 750 Met police officers and staff have had accusations of sexual misconduct, including accusations of sexual harassment, sexual assault, rape and using their position of power for sexual gain. Of those 750, only 83 were sacked' - Angela Crawley, from link above

They probably all got promotion, the police have zero credibility thanks to their disgraceful behaviour and lies.

FFS, that's not a strip search it's sexual assault!

It's not just elements of the Met that are rotten - it's all of it. It's full of racist misogynist homophobic bullies. The whole force needs disbanding. Dick has presided for years over a corrupt mob.

It's not just elements of the Met that are rotten - it's all of it. It's full of racist misogynist homophobic bullies. The whole force needs disbanding. Dick has presided for years over a corrupt mob.

Completely agree. They're a stain on society.

Oh I’m so glad you posted about this. I started a couple of times, but couldn’t articulate how angry I am about this. Zero trust in the Met Police. They are a disgrace. The fact that the sgt was cleared in an earlier hearing, and that it’s only an inspector apologising now. The commissioner should be apologising. They really do think they are judge, jury and executioner. So glad I no longer live in London. All this, “the Met’s the best” is utter shit. The culture up there is corrupt and rotten. Makes my blood boil. If you’re not safe with the police, then something has gone wrong.

@Clymene

It's not just elements of the Met that are rotten - it's all of it. It's full of racist misogynist homophobic bullies. The whole force needs disbanding. Dick has presided for years over a corrupt mob.

I couldn't have put it better myself.

@Ploppy1322

FFS, that's not a strip search it's sexual assault!

Absolutely. How can they get away with this?

That's horrific, felt sick reading that.

She must have felt so terrified, humiliated and powerless. Made to feel that way by the people we're supposed to trust to keep us safe :(

It clearly was assault. She’s a brave women to have kept pursuing this complaint. There will be many, many more that can’t complain because of lots of reasons. for her. for those that couldn’t complain.

It’s not just the MET, I worked for a Force (staff), something happened outside of work, I was the victim. I read the reports after…they completely tarnished me, lies were made up and reported (to protect someone else). I didn’t have the strength or courage at the time to fight it. I knew I would unfairly get dragged through the mud. So I kept my head down and left at the nearest opportunity. They have so much power, we are beholden to them to protect victims, uphold the law and to be fair. And if they chose not to do the things we pay them to do, you have to be incredibly brave to fight the system.

Read the article earlier and it made me feel physically sick. I couldn't articulate well enough to make the first post about it but it's just beyond appalling, especially the time it has taken to get to this point. How can any woman in this country have any faith in the police after this and what happened to the woman in Wales? It makes me not want to leave the house, or even be active online.

Today is not a good news day. 😔

Whatthechicken

She was searched / assaulted by three women, which is appalling. How can women treat another woman like that?

It’s the sort of thing we are lead to believe only happens in other countries.

It almost beyond belief that they arrested her, strip searched her including between her legs, and were told to “treat her like a terrorist”, all for handing a rights card to a child who was being arrested.

Then they lied and lied and lied.

I read the Daily Mail comments, and despite the orof having a forrin name, and intervening to ensure a person later proved to be carrying a knife received due process, the commentators overwhelmingly consider her a heroine and the police action appalling.

@yourhairiswinterfire

That's horrific, felt sick reading that.

She must have felt so terrified, humiliated and powerless. Made to feel that way by the people we're supposed to trust to keep us safe :(

All praise to whomever it was who ensured that the CCTV footage wasn't lost/wiped or whatever over the 9 years it has taken to work through the system.