Anti-black racism 'baked' into Met, review reveals

An internal review has revealed that discrimination against Black people is deeply ingrained in the leadership, culture, and governance of the Metropolitan Police.

The independent report, written by Dr. Shereen Daniels, examined four decades of evidence showing how racism has impacted Black communities as well as Black officers and staff within the force.

Baroness Doreen Lawrence — mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence — welcomed the report but said it confirmed what she had long known.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley described the findings as “powerful,” acknowledging that the force still needs “systemic, structural, and cultural change.”

The review, commissioned by consultancy firm HR Rewired, found that darker-skinned Met employees were often “labelled confrontational,” while lighter-skinned colleagues tended to receive more empathy and leniency.

Dr. Daniels stressed that systemic racism “is not a matter of perception,” saying genuine accountability requires clarity and honesty. “The same systems that cause racial harm to Black people also allow other injustices to persist,” she said. “Addressing this is essential for fairness and safety for all.”

Baroness Lawrence said discrimination in the Met “must be acknowledged, accepted, and confronted,” adding that racism played a role both in her son’s murder and the police’s failure to bring all his killers to justice. “The police must stop promising change while we continue to suffer. That change must happen now,” she urged.

Imran Khan KC, the Lawrence family’s lawyer, said the report’s conclusions were unsurprising and warned that Sir Mark Rowley should step down if he does not “recognise, acknowledge, and accept” them. “This report shows clearly that the time for words is over — promises to change can no longer be trusted,” he added.

This review is the latest in a series of investigations exposing racism in the UK’s largest police force. Baroness Louise Casey’s 2023 report — prompted by the murder of Sarah Everard — found the Met to be institutionally racist, misogynistic, and homophobic. Earlier inquiries, including the 1999 Macpherson Report, reached similar conclusions following the Stephen Lawrence case.

In 2024, undercover BBC footage revealed Met officers joking about shooting immigrants and glorifying violence. Several officers were later dismissed as Sir Mark Rowley vowed to “ruthlessly” remove those unfit for duty.

Andy George, president of the National Black Police Association, said the new report was yet another reminder of long-standing issues that have gone unaddressed. “There’s a culture of denial and inaction — once the scrutiny fades, it’s back to business as usual,” he told BBC Radio 4.

He also criticised Sir Mark’s latest response, saying, “He said the same things after the Casey review and Panorama. The words sound good, but we’re not seeing action.”

Following the report’s release, Sir Mark reiterated that “the Met will only achieve true policing by consent when it is inclusive and actively anti-racist.” He added that the force will work to identify and tackle the root causes of discrimination both in its operations and internal structures.