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Independent Review Says Anti-Black Racism Is 'Baked In' at the Met Police

The 125-page diagnostic report draws on four decades of evidence to show systems and leadership produce recurring harm.

Overview

  • Dr Shereen Daniels’ 30 Patterns of Harm, commissioned by the Met and published Friday, finds discrimination embedded in HR, governance and culture, producing racial harm that the institution defends.
  • The review documents skin‑tone bias inside the force, with darker‑skinned staff labelled confrontational while lighter‑skinned colleagues receive quicker empathy and leniency.
  • It says operational practices disproportionately target Black Londoners, stating stop and search treats blackness as probable cause and that force is more likely to be used against Black people.
  • Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley welcomed the findings and said further systemic, structural and cultural change is required, citing slight improvements in trust among Black Londoners yet acknowledging significant gaps.
  • Critics including the National Black Police Association and Baroness Doreen Lawrence questioned leadership and accountability, as the Met pledged reflection, broader partner engagement and a refreshed London Race Action Plan after recent scandals and officer dismissals.