A retired Metropolitan Police officer said the decision by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to put the force into “special measures” is a “colossal slap in the face” for the rank-and-file officers who are struggling to cope with a massive increase in demand.
It comes as the Policing Minister, Kit Malthouse, accused the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, of being “asleep at the wheel” when it comes to the Metropolitan Police.
It has emerged that the head of HMICFRS, Matt Parr, wrote to the acting Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Stephen House, saying he had “substantial and persistent concerns” about the Met “for a considerable time.” He said action was needed on training, the response to 999 calls, and a backlog of online child abuse investigations….