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Met suspends eight officers and civilian in racism inquiry | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Eight Metropolitan Police officers and one other member of staff have been suspended as the IPCC investigates 10 complaints of racism against the force. | |
Earlier the Met said an acting sergeant and two PCs based in Newham had been suspended over a claim of racist abuse after last year's London riots. | |
The force has now said a further seven complaints are being investigated and five more officers have been suspended. | |
Deputy Commissioner Craig Mackey said the Met "does not tolerate racism". | Deputy Commissioner Craig Mackey said the Met "does not tolerate racism". |
In total, 20 officers are being investigated in relation to the 10 claims of racism. | |
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has begun a formal investigation into the allegations relating to the officers from Newham. | |
Following the new allegations, an IPCC spokeswoman said: "We await receipt of the seven referrals from the MPS and we will assess each case on its merits and make a decision regarding the level of IPCC involvement needed. | |
"At this stage the IPCC has not agreed to investigate any of these latest referrals." | |
'High standards' | |
It comes just days after the force vowed to get to the bottom of a "very damaging" mobile phone recording of one officer apparently racially abusing a man and another allegedly assaulting a teenage boy last summer. | It comes just days after the force vowed to get to the bottom of a "very damaging" mobile phone recording of one officer apparently racially abusing a man and another allegedly assaulting a teenage boy last summer. |
The cases cover a range of areas including Westminster, Wandsworth and Islington and two go back as far as 2010. | The cases cover a range of areas including Westminster, Wandsworth and Islington and two go back as far as 2010. |
An officer linked to one of the complaints has been suspended after being convicted of racially aggravated offences. | An officer linked to one of the complaints has been suspended after being convicted of racially aggravated offences. |
Mr Mackey said he had commissioned a review of racism complaints and added: "The Met has around 50,000 staff, including 32,000 officers, who were deployed to over 1.3 million incidents last year on behalf of Londoners. | Mr Mackey said he had commissioned a review of racism complaints and added: "The Met has around 50,000 staff, including 32,000 officers, who were deployed to over 1.3 million incidents last year on behalf of Londoners. |
"The vast majority act with the professionalism and high standards we expect." | "The vast majority act with the professionalism and high standards we expect." |
Allegations of bullying, abuse and physical assault were outlined in the new cases made public. | Allegations of bullying, abuse and physical assault were outlined in the new cases made public. |
Following the new allegations, Mayor of London Boris Johnson spoke to the commissioner and said the claims were of "deep concern". | |
He said: "London is the most tolerant city in the world. There is no room for racism here and the commissioner is right to take a zero-tolerance approach to any racism in the ranks of the Met. | |
"These allegations are therefore of deep concern and I have instructed my deputy mayor to liaise closely with the commissioner and the IPCC to ensure they are investigated thoroughly." | |
Claims include: | Claims include: |
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