Feminism: Sex & gender discussions
Casey investigation into Met Police sexism
ArabellaScott · 21/03/2023 11:01
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/03/21/casey-review-rape-may-legal-london-met-police-officer-said/
'The detection rate for rape is now so low in London that “you may as well say it is legal”, one Met officer told a landmark review.
The damning report by the crossbench peer Baroness Casey found examples of bad practice in the way sexual cases were handled including freezers holding vital forensic evidence being too crammed to close and even breaking down.'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65015479
'Women and children have been failed by the Metropolitan Police, with racism, misogyny, and homophobia at the heart of the force, a blistering review says.
Baroness Casey says a "boys' club" culture is rife and the force could be dismantled if it does not improve.'
Rape may as well be legal in London, Met Police officer said
Casey review told of catalogue of errors in sex offences unit, including evidence being lost when fridges stopped working
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/03/21/casey-review-rape-may-legal-london-met-police-officer-said/
ArabellaScott · 21/03/2023 11:02
'The report also calls for a dedicated women's protection service and a broad new strategy for protecting children, including preventing the "adultification" of young people who are regarded as "threats rather than children who need protection from harm"'
MavisMcMinty · 21/03/2023 11:21
Here is the opening statement from Baroness Louise Casey’s report. She praises the tenacity of women and victims in getting the worst cases highlighted when their initial complaints were smothered.
www.theneweuropean.co.uk/95580-2/
ArabellaScott · 21/03/2023 11:44
Thank you, that's a moving statement.
'Reverend Smallman also told me that: “The strides and the windows that we’ve been able to open into this institution have not come about because of the police’s desire to change. It’s come about on the backs and the tenacity of people of colour and women, and that’s not the way we’re going to affect real change. If you’re constantly trying to cover up the cracks then you’re never going to address anything.”
She is right. She can continue to campaign. The Met can be subject to better forms of scrutiny. I can continue to speak the truth as I see it. She will. They will. I will. But, ultimately, it is the Met that has to change itself. It is not our job as the public to keep ourselves safe from the police. It is the police’s job to keep us safe as the public.'
MandyMotherOfBrian · 21/03/2023 12:23
LizzieSiddal · 21/03/2023 12:13
I felt so sad and angry listening to examples of what is happening in this police force. Just disgraceful. Does anyone have confidence that anything will change? I don’t.
No. And I don’t think it’s just ‘this’ police force either.
MavisMcMinty · 21/03/2023 12:37
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TizerorFizz · 21/03/2023 14:39
There seems to be an omission in the report in that it doesn’t talk about LGBTQ people and their treatment by the police. Only how the police treat their own officers who identify as LGBTQ. I’m amazed at this.
I feel the police have become a club where a certain type of person thrives and others look on powerless to do anything about it. The rot starts at the top. Senior police officers didn’t do anything to investigate or ask others to do it soon enough. They have let the most reprehensible officers stay in the force after their criminal behaviour. They have let the protection force become a law unto itself. A force within a force and not accountable.
Also, the recruitment is hugely questionable. Why don’t they have better vetting and recruitment procedures? They know the issues. They recruit in the image of themselves. They don’t want challenge. They want overtime and the pension. The worst is not getting rid of unacceptable officers. It’s not good enough.
The few times I’ve come into contact with the police I’ve found them unhelpful and far too willing to blame the victim. I don’t trust them and I’m a middle class retired woman. I can totally see why minorities don’t trust them.
TizerorFizz · 21/03/2023 18:02
@MavisMcMinty
I think they recruit in the image of themselves. I also think the Police don’t recruit enough professionals from other organisations. Certainly they are not attractive to many high flying grads who think independently. They avoid the police as they don’t see them as providing graduate opportunities.
MavisMcMinty · 21/03/2023 18:06
Yes, maybe that’s it, @TizerorFizz . As a nurse from the 1980s, we were always rather condescending about the very short training period compared with our 3 years, when their starting salary once qualified was higher than ours. Maybe a more rigorous training that not everyone who applies gets through is the way forward, with longer, more meaningful probation periods.
IwantToRetire · 21/03/2023 18:13
I dont in any way want to imply I dont think what this report has revealed isn't horrifying, but ...
As other have said this have been known for years / decades.
The problem is that those who usually try and raise the issue have no status in society, so if you are a women, in you are a member of a BME community, if you are Lesbian or Gay, society does not listen. Because those in positions of influence, ie MPs, newspapers are exactly the same.
The Metropolitan Police are a reflection of our society, or rather male attitudes in society. Wherever there is a male dominated community, eg different religions, the armed forces, schools, people's own homes, men will behave as man feel entitled to behave knowing that because they are an enclosed group they can get away with it.
That is our problem. ie given the opportunity men will exploit their positions of power, and the few exceptions will decide they cant stay.
I don't know enough about the management structures, but suspect it is too big, but even if broken into smaller forces, I dont see how you can get away with the underlying problem. Men in groups of men, are a danger.
Added to which giving a report to Louise Casey is a death knell on anything being done.
You would think she would be too embarrassed to take on yet another investigation as none she has ever done has achieved anything. If she had any intergrity she would have said dont ask me to do another report until you can show me you will act of them. But still she's got her title and her fees.
That is what we need to know, not some litany of faults, but how do we achieve change when those who need to change are men, and that those who have the power to enforce change are men.
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