A serving Metropolitan police officer has been arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice, after undercover footage showed colleagues at Charing Cross police station making racist and sexist comments.
The footage, gathered for a BBC Panorama documentary, appears to show officers at a central London station calling for immigrants to be shot and boasting about using violence against suspects.
The Met confirmed that a sergeant attached to the Central West Basic Command Unit was arrested following an âincidentâ on 2 October. The officer has since been bailed and suspended from duty.
A force spokesperson said: âThe allegation relates to an incident that took place at Charing Cross police station on 2 October and is linked to matters disclosed in BBC Panorama.
âThe investigation is ongoing so it would not be appropriate to go into further detail at this time.
âThe Independent Office for Police Conduct, which is independently investigating allegations in relation to Charing Cross, has been informed.â
Deputy assistant commissioner Andy Valentine said: âWe have been extremely clear we will be unrelenting in our approach to tackling issues at Charing Cross, and anywhere else across the Met.
âThis fresh matter came to light through our internal reporting mechanisms and we continue to encourage and support all our officers and staff to report allegations of criminal and misconduct behaviour so we can act swiftly.
âProfessional standards officers immediately acted to make the arrest and the officer has been suspended from duty.
âWe will not hesitate to take rapid action around any further allegations, as part of our deeper probe into corruption and ridding the Met of those who are not fit to serve the people of London.â
Reacting to the documentary earlier this week, Keir Starmer said: âIâve not yet seen the footage, but Iâve had it described to me, and itâs shocking, and Iâm glad the commissioner is responding. He needs to be very robust in his response.â
The Met commissioner, Mark Rowley, said people in London could trust the âvast majorityâ of its officers, and added he was âhorrifiedâ by the documentary.
Nine serving officers, one former officer and one detention officer are under investigation for gross misconduct by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Allegations include excessive use of force, making discriminatory and misogynistic comments and failing to report or challenge inappropriate behaviour.
The documentary footage shows one officer, PC Phil Neilson, referring to an immigrant who had overstayed his visa, saying: âEither put a bullet through his head or deport him. And the ones that shag women, rape women, you do the cock and let them bleed out.â
While drinking at a pub off-duty, he also told undercover reporter Rory Bibb that Algerians and Somalians are âscumâ, and claimed there was an âinvasionâ of the UK by migrants.
Another officer, PC Martin Borg, bragged about a colleague stamping on a detaineeâs leg and laughed about the suspect screaming.
He also appeared to say he offered to fill in a false witness statement about the incident.
