Enhanced monitoring of Met Police comes to an end

Enhanced monitoring of the Metropolitan Police has come to an end, according to the His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

The force was under extra scrutiny for two and a half years, following a series of scandals including the murder of Sarah Everard, the strip-search of Child Q and officers being caught exchanging offensive messages.

HMICFRS said the force had made improvements, but also acknowledged there was still a “significant amount” of work to do.

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the force’s progress had been "extraordinary" in a "budget-constrained, shrinking Met".

HMICFR‘s Lee Freeman said he was pleased with the progress the force had made so far and had "recommended removing the service from our enhanced level of monitoring, known as Engage, and return it to routine monitoring".

He acknowledged there was still a "significant" amount of work to do but added he was "reassured" by plans put in place to “continue making sustainable improvements".

In response, the Met Police said officers and staff had worked tirelessly to address problems.

It said a new strategy for the force was set out in July 2022 in the New Met for London plan - aimed at rebuilding the organisation.

Sir Mark praised “the unwavering passion, sense of duty, courage and hard work of our officers and staff in the face of some incredibly challenging circumstances".

He added: "The whole of the Met has worked to fix our broken foundations and make sure our officers are set up to deliver for London.

"Their achievement is all the more extraordinary in a budget-constrained, shrinking Met which is facing increased demand."

The commissioner told the BBC earlier the force would be "shrinking faster" next year.

He said: "Our budget will be finalised over the end of the month but I haven't seen anything to suggest that we won't be losing a thousand officers and staff."

He said the anticipated loss was "concerning".

In December, the commissioner said the force needed an additional £450m; a week later the government announced it would provide an extra £65m.

The commissioner said that the force's exit from enhanced monitoring by the inspectorate showed it was on the "right path".

The inspectorate found improvements in:

• Responding appropriately to the public and vulnerable people, including answering calls more quickly
• Assessing and investigating missing children and crimes involving exploited children
• Identifying victim-blaming language
• Crime management, including new units which help crimes to be assessed and allocated to officers with the right skills
• Prioritising the improvement of investigations and recognising the importance of offender management within the investigations process
• Professional standards and property management

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the force had "many problems to deal with", but said the news from the inspectorate was an "important and welcome step".

She added: "Everyone recognises that there is still more work that must be done to improve performance and restore public confidence, and I will continue to work closely with the commissioner and the mayor to ensure this is just the first step in a long-term mission to improve the Metropolitan Police and keep people safe across London."

Analysis: Sonja Jessup, BBC London home affairs correspondent

There's no doubt this is a significant moment for the Met.

The Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, who came into the role a few months after the force was placed into the Engage process, has been under huge pressure to prove that his promises of reform are really delivering results.

The latest HMICFRS inspection is a show of confidence in its progress. But it is a first step.

It will take time for Londoners, who regularly share their fears and frustration over crime and the police response to it, to see results and feel safer.

And looming over today's good news headline is the commissioner's stark warning of "eye-watering" cuts if it doesn't secure more funding.

Sir Mark says the Met has fixed the "broken foundations", but how solid are they?

Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said the step forward by the force was "down to the hard work of the force", along with "record investment and support from City Hall".

He said: "Having asked the HMI to look in particular at concerns around child sexual exploitation, it's reassuring that the Met Police have made significant improvements in this area."

But, he also acknowledged "there's still more to do".

Last week the mayor announced that average council tax bills could go up by almost £19 a year to help pay for London's police and fire services.

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