A High Court ruling states that the Metropolitan Police cannot dismiss officers by removing their vetting clearance, sparking outrage from the Commissioner. Sir Mark Rowley condemned the ruling, saying it leaves the force in a 'hopeless position', as officers found unfit to hold vetting cannot be lawfully sacked. The ruling follows Sergeant Lino Di Maria's legal challenge after his vetting was removed over sexual assault allegations, which he denies. The Met plans to appeal the decision.
A High Court ruling that the Metropolitan Police cannot dismiss officers by removing their vetting clearance was today blasted by the Commissioner as 'absolutely absurd'.
The Met, which is Britain's biggest police force, maintained that it would be left in a 'hopeless position' if it could not dismiss officers after removing their vetting clearance because of allegations of sexual or domestic abuse. Sir Mark told reporters outside New Scotland Yard in London this morning: 'Today's ruling on the law has left policing in a hopeless position.
Advertisement 'It is absolutely absurd that we cannot lawfully sack them. This would not be the case in other sectors where staff have nothing like the powers comparable to police officers.' Sergeant Di Maria's vetting was removed in September 2023 and his appeal against this decision in 2024 was refused.
Read More Met Police rape detective threatened to rape his own partner during years of abuse, panel rules 'The panel merely confirms a decision that has already been made, by an internal vetting regime which is not Article 6 compliant. Where basic vetting clearance has been withdrawn, the only outcome open to the panel is dismissal.
Read MoreBREAKING NEWS Police in armed siege with knifeman: 'Hostage situation' fears 'The judge has identified a clear gap in the law, one that we have done our best to bridge, but as the judge has said, the answer lies in strengthened police vetting regulations. Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said the High Court ruling 'has significant implications for the work the Met is now doing to clean up the force'
'Those we have removed vetting from, had a pattern of behaviour that meant if they applied to work in policing today, we'd never let them in.'We now have no mechanism to rid the Met of officers who are not fit to hold vetting – those who cannot be trusted to work with women, or enter the homes of vulnerable people.
'The judge identified a clear gap in the law, one we have done our best to bridge. But as the judge said, the answer lies in strengthened Police Vetting Regulations. Advertisement 'Di Maria, who had allegations of rape, sexual assault and harassment against him, that they want to see someone like him stay in policing.
'No one who has failed vetting should continue to serve in the force and we will work closely with the Commissioner, the Home Office and partners to assess the implications of this ruling.' 'I am concerned this outcome will put female officers' safety at risk, as well as that of their colleagues and the public.
'That's why this government is acting rapidly to introduce new, strengthened rules that will help forces dismiss officers who cannot maintain vetting clearance.
POLICE VETTING HUMAN RIGHTS DISMISSAL LONDON METROPOLITAN POLICE
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