Overview

• The number of officers dismissed and placed on the barred list in the year to March 2025 rose 24% from 594 to 735, the highest since the list began in 2017.
• The Metropolitan Police recorded 183 dismissals, followed by Greater Manchester Police (43), Thames Valley Police (40) and West Midlands Police (37), while Merseyside reached a five‑year high with 27.
• The most frequently cited factors were dishonesty (126), discriminatory behaviour (95), unlawful access or disclosure of information (82), inappropriate communications (81) and sexual offences or misconduct (72).
• Additional categories included abuse of position for a sexual purpose (31), child sexual offences (21), participation in discriminatory WhatsApp groups (45) and domestic abuse or harassment (26).
• Police staff and specials were also affected, with 280 staff members and 31 special constables added to the barred list, both up on the previous year; BBC Panorama’s Charing Cross investigation has prompted ten fast‑tracked misconduct hearings at the Met.