Scotland Yard has come under intense criticism over crime and corruption among the ranks (stock photo)
(Picture: PA Archive)The Met Police has reportedly asked hundreds of retired officers with histories of misconduct to rejoin the force.
According to the Times newspaper, the force wrote to more than 3,200 retired officers asking them to rejoin, more than 250 of whom were disciplined for misconduct during their career.
Another 99 ex-officers who were sent letters asking them to rejoin due to their “valuable skills and experience” despite retiring while under investigation.
The enhanced return scheme allows retired officers to rejoin on full pay alongside their pension.
The force is aiming to recruit up to 300 former officers who had retired at the ranks of constable, sergeant or inspector under the programme.
Scotland Yard said only six officers had so far returned under the scheme, none of whom had recent or live misconduct warnings on their record, and that all applicants were fully vetted.
A breakdown of the misconduct beaches, obtained by the paper under Freedom of Information laws, was not available.
Forces across the UK are being told to check all officers and staff members against national databases to flag up any potential vetting failures.
The move was ordered after the conviction of Met PC David Carrick who is due to be sentenced next week after pleading guilty to 49 charges including 29 of rape.
He has since been dismissed from the force.
The Met is facing pressure to meet a recruitment target of having hired 4,000 new officers by March, its share of the government’s pledge of 20,000 new officers on the streets.
A Met spokesperson said: “Six people have returned to the Met under the enhanced return scheme. None of these officers had a live warning or were subject to misconduct proceedings at the time of being accepted back into the Met on this scheme.
“The enhanced return scheme aims to retain experienced police officers in the Met to ensure we maintain the right workforce balance as we continue to grow at pace.
“All eligible officers must complete an application form for the scheme and should their application be successful, are invited to attend an interview and are subject to full vetting, including unsatisfactory police performance checks, medical clearance, and reference checks from previous line/senior managers.”
