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Metropolitan Police: Misogyny and Sexual Harassment
08 March 2022
Lead MP
Sarah Olney
Richmond Park
Lib Dem
Responding Minister
Rachel Maclean
Tags
Policing & ResourcesEmploymentWomen & Equalities
Word Count: 12824
Other Contributors: 8
At a Glance
Sarah Olney raised concerns about metropolitan police: misogyny and sexual harassment in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
I urge the review led by Baroness Louise Casey to expand its terms of reference to include specific mention of misogyny. The next Metropolitan Police Commissioner should pay attention to the findings of the IOPC report and Casey's review, focusing on creating a culture that reinforces respectful behaviour and deals robustly with evidence of misogynistic attitudes.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
I am concerned about the impact of misogyny and sexual harassment in the Metropolitan Police, particularly following the death of Sarah Everard. The arrest of a serving police officer for her murder damaged public confidence further when the Met advised women to flag down buses or shout for help if they felt threatened by a police officer. Over the past four years, 2,000 accusations of sexual misconduct against Met officers were made, but only one-third resulted in dismissals. This includes PC Wayne Couzens who was previously convicted and regularly shared offensive messages on WhatsApp with other officers. Additionally, two police officers were jailed for photographing and sharing images of the bodies of Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman after their disappearance. The Independent Office for Police Conduct also found a culture of 'toxic masculinity', sexual harassment, and misogyny at Charing Cross police station, highlighting issues of inappropriate conduct by male officers towards women.
Diane Abbott
Ind
Hackney North and Stoke Newington
Ms Abbott highlighted the long-standing issue of misogyny within the Metropolitan Police, citing examples such as the treatment of Sarah Everard's vigil attendees and the Charing Cross police station scandal involving grossly sexist and racist messages. She also mentioned the case of Dr Konstancja Duff who was wrongly arrested and strip-searched by three female officers, with derogatory comments caught on CCTV. Ms Abbott highlighted the challenges faced by women joining the police force, citing a recent incident where new female officers were subjected to initiation rituals involving humiliation.
Florence Eshalomi
Lab Co-op
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
The MP highlighted the high number of female MPs elected in her party and shared her personal experience with insecurity. She cited Sarah Everard's murder as an example of misogyny in policing, along with other incidents such as the deaths of Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman. Eshalomi criticised the Met police for their handling of vigils and women's safety issues, noting that 65% of rape victims drop out due to a lack of trust in the process.
Gagan Mohindra
Con
South West Hertfordshire
Mr Mohindra noted his presence but did not provide further detail or ask a question.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Mr Shannon spoke about the need for change in societal attitudes towards women and highlighted incidents of sexual misconduct within police forces, including the Police Service of Northern Ireland. He noted that 19 officers are suspended over sexual misconduct claims, with 25 incidents under investigation, and called for drastic action to address the issue.
Maria Miller
Con
Hastings and Rye
Expressed concern about systemic misogyny in the Met police following Sarah Everard's murder, citing additional cases of misconduct. Emphasized the importance of diversity in policing and called for transparency to hold officers accountable. Asked Florence Eshalomi about the need to stop using anonymity in police employment tribunals. Mrs Miller thanked the Minister for her speech and questioned why there was confusion over whether the name of an officer involved in a tribunal could be used publicly, noting that legal action had to be taken by a local newspaper to clarify this matter.
Nadia Whittome
Lab
Nottingham East
She highlighted the damaging impact of the Metropolitan Police's actions on women in Nottingham, citing cases of undercover officers engaging in sexual relationships and misconduct. She also mentioned a strip-search incident involving her constituent Dr Koshika Duff and noted that 594 complaints for sexual misconduct were made against Met employees between 2012 and 2018.
Paula Barker
Lab
Liverpool Wavertree
Paid tribute to Sarah Olney for calling the debate, highlighting the deep concern over the inability of society to protect women from harassment and sexual assault. Cited Operation Hotton's findings that misogyny is not isolated but widespread in the Metropolitan Police Service. Raised concerns about a culture of fear among police officers who are reluctant to report misconduct due to lack of confidence in handling such issues effectively or fear of repercussions. Ms Barker inquired about measures being taken to address sexual harassment on anonymous or pseudonymous social media accounts.
Sarah Jones
Lab
Croydon West
Ms Jones discussed the impact of misogyny and sexual harassment in policing, citing specific cases where women were wrongfully blamed for their own abuse or murder. She highlighted broader issues such as institutional corruption, unconscious bias against LGBTQ+ individuals, and inappropriate use of social media by police forces across the country. She also emphasised the need to address systemic cultural problems within the Metropolitan Police, including leadership failures and toxic masculinity. Ms Jones drew attention to a report by Sir Michael Barber and the Policing Foundation suggesting structural reforms such as a licence-to-practise system for police officers, which could be considered for future policy.
Government Response
Rachel Maclean
Government Response
The Home Office is taking measures to address misogyny and sexual harassment in policing. This includes establishing an Angiolini inquiry, launching the Enough. campaign, and amending legislation to ensure violence against women and girls is a priority for police forces. Additionally, the Government is working on education initiatives to teach young people about healthy relationships and consent.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.