Decision details

The following motion was unanimously AGREED as the outcome of the non-cabinet member debate:

“Casey Review – Metropolitan Police

This Council notes:

§    The damning findings of the March 2023 Casey Review, which showed a persistent and endemic culture of racism, misogyny, homophobia and violence against women within London’s Metropolitan Police force.

§    The recent BBC investigation that found that the Metropolitan Police seriously mishandled key inquiries related to a major suspect in the murder of Stephen Lawrence.

§    That whilst the Casey Review and the recent revelations about the Stephen Lawrence investigation are shocking, it will not be surprising to many in our communities across Brent who have been failed by the Metropolitan Police. Rather, these findings have further exposed an institution that has been known for systemic failures since before the murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993.

§    The persistent failure of leadership at all levels of the Metropolitan Police to act decisively and remove dangerous officers from their posts, despite multiple reports showing their propensity for serious harm prior to the violence and destruction they subsequently caused to dozens of lives.

§    That the murder of Sarah Everard by Wayne Couzens, the dehumanising treatment of Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman, the Stephen Port murders, and the 48 rape offenses committed by David Carrick might have been prevented if swift and effective action had been taken at the time.

This Council also notes:

§    That crime disproportionately impacts members of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, those on the lowest incomes and members of the LGBTQ+ community, and that tackling crime across the borough means it is integral that these communities have trust and faith in the police that serve them.

§    Black people are nine times more likely to be stopped and searched by police than white people, official figures for England and Wales show.

§    As highlighted by Baroness Casey, it is not enough for the Metropolitan Police to “reflect” on what needs to change, but that it needs a complete overhaul in order to take firm and decisive action against racism, misogyny and homophobia.

§    The work of the Independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board, which has highlighted the reluctance of the Metropolitan Police so far to make any significant change.

§    Whilst this council recognises the heroic work done by many police officers, including our own neighbourhood officers here in Brent, there is clearly unfinished business in the police force if there is to be an end to the culture that enabled these horrifying injustices to take place.

This Council further notes:

§    Brent Council's efforts to address Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) through the following initiatives:

o      The establishment of a VAWG Scrutiny Task Group in 2020 which provided a set of recommendations on how best to utilise Council resources to help combat VAWG. These recommendations are currently being implemented and its progress regularly reviewed to ensure this issue remains a high priority for the Council.

o      Increased resources to VAWG organisations across the borough, as well as increased MARAC service provision to meet the demands from the knock-on effect of the Covid-19 pandemic.

o      Workshops conducted with local businesses across Brent to ensure that training is provided to the night-time economy (local pubs, bars, restaurants, etc.) around supporting vulnerable women and safeguarding is offered more widely to local businesses.

o      A series of public awareness campaigns demonstrating solidarity against VAWG.

§    The Council's investment in approaches to address perpetrators, provide trauma support to victims of crime; and investment in early intervention and prevention of community violence and harm – it is local government across London that has the approaches and best practice that is of value to the Metropolitan Police in its transformation.

§    The positive introduction of LGBT+ Community Liaison Officers (CLO) for the North West Borough Command Unit (covering Brent, Barnet and Harrow boroughs) to improve relationships and trust between the LGBTQ+ Community and the Police.

§    The Cabinet Member for Community Safety meets with the Metropolitan Police Commander for North West BCU (covering Brent, Harrow and Barnet) once a month to discuss urgent police matters affecting Brent residents and to ensure the interests of our communities in Brent are taken into account by the local police.

This Council therefore resolves:

(1)      That the Cabinet Member for Safer Communities & Public Protection should write to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to confirm Brent Council’s support of the Casey Review, requesting that the Metropolitan Police make concrete efforts to rebuild the trust lost by adopting and implementing without delay, all 16 recommendations of the Casey Review.

This includes:

o     Adopting a new, independent, multidisciplinary team of police officers and staff who will reform how the Metropolitan Police deals with misconduct cases, with a particular focus on how it handles sexual misconduct, domestic abuse and discrimination.

o     Overhauling the recruitment and vetting system to ensure that new recruits are not drawn to the job for the wrong reasons; and revoking special qualifications where officers’ standards fall short of public expectations.

o     Providing the Police Commissioner new powers that ensure that they can take strong and decisive action when the sanctions and consequences for misconduct are inadequate.

o     A dedicated Women’s Protection Service with specialist units who focus on rape and serious and sexual offences and the creation of a children's strategy to focus resources on safeguarding and child protection.

(2)      To call upon the Metropolitan Police to build an improved borough-based approach that will rebuild trust in policing across communities by investing in frontline policing - including safer communities and public protection - and ensuring victims of crimes such as domestic violence and sexual assault have appropriate, compassionate, and effective support and resources.

(3)      To call upon the Metropolitan Police to commit to an overhaul of stop and search powers and accountability for the use of force in our communities.

(4)      To call upon the Metropolitan Police to further their partnership working with London local government as part of boosting local accountability and scrutiny of police powers, including working closely with those communities most impacted by police activity and communities and individuals subject to the disproportionality highlighted in the Casey report.”