Racism crisis as Met hit by spate of complaints

Deputy Commissioner Craig Mackey insisted “the Met does not tolerate racism” as he revealed seven more allegations had been reported after three officers were suspended over claims of offensive comments to colleagues.

It also comes just days after the force vowed to get to the bottom of “very damaging” footage of one officer apparently racially abusing a man and another allegedly assaulting a teenage boy last summer.

Mr Mackey warned there could yet be further referrals to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

Mr Mackey said: “We have referred seven cases to the IPCC, in addition to the three cases already reported in the media... all these cases were in the process of being considered by the Metropolitan Police Service and five officers and staff had been, and still are, suspended.”

Three officers based in Newham were suspended earlier yesterday in relation to complaints that they used racist language.

Allegations of bullying, abuse and physical assault were outlined in the new cases made public last night.

Claims include bullying by a number of police officers and staff against PCSOs over an 18-month period in Wandsworth; an assault involving five officers against youngsters in Hyde Park; a complaint of racial abuse by an unidentified police officer in Camden; the mishandling of calls with a “racial element” by a Pc working in the force’s central communication command in 2010; racist language used by officers in Westminster and Islington and an officer convicted on March 26, this year, of racially aggravated public order offences which was automatically referred to the IPCC.