Met chief Sir Mark Rowley faces criticism from Tory MPs

Met chief Sir Mark Rowley faced Tory fury for “turning a blind eye” over the number of frontline officers with criminal convictions in the force.

In a grilling by MPs, the country’s most senior officer was told Scotland Yard is a “national disgrace” for failing to root out officers who have committed crimes.

The Metropolitan Police Commissioner refused to say how many frontline officers convicted of sexual offences or domestic abuse are serving today.

Conservative MP James Daly said it “doesn’t seem to bother anybody in the organisation” that such officers are being sent out to deal with vulnerable cases.”

Sir Mark told the Home Affairs select committee he does not have the power to sack an officer on the spot even if they have been convicted of a sexual offence.

“I do not have the last say on who is a police officer,” he said.

He said police appeals tribunals have put sacked officers back into the force.

Sir Mark said the government must give him more powers to kick out officers.

“I’m not allowed to sack them myself,” he said.

Sir Mark was brought in to clean up the force following the murder of Sarah Everard by serving Metropolitan Police constable Wayne Couzens.

But the police chief previously served in senior positions in the force until leaving in 2018.

Sir Mark was questioned about why he had not taken action during that time.

He was told you “must have seen these problems at that stage”.

Mr Daly added: “You seem to be typical of a senior police officer at the Metropolitan Police who just seem to have gone along with this negligence, this incompetence and turned a blind eye.”

“I have real concerns about that.”

Mr Rowley insisted “much progress” has been made over the last few decades but admitted “it is not enough”.

Tory Party deputy chairman Lee Anderson accused the police chief of being “in denial” after Sir Mark told the committee he “can’t remember” witnessing incidents of misogyny or racism in the force.

Mr Anderson told the police chief “you must have been walking around with your eyes closed”.

Sir Mark said: “I’m not in denial at all. I’ve been more forthright about the need to reform and the need to confront standards in policing than any commissioner for decades.”

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