Met to use counter-terrorism tactics against worst male predators

The approach announced by Sir Mark Rowley puts into practice a 2015 promise that the Met would treat rape and sexual offences as seriously as terrorism. Photograph: Aaron Chown/PA

The Metropolitan police has started using counter-terrorism tactics to hunt down the worst male offenders targeting women. Scotland Yard said it will rank the worst male offenders and then “use the organised crime or terrorism approach” against those assessed to be the most harmful top 100.

The announcement came as the force’s commissioner launched a new set of promises – called A New Met for London – aimed at dragging Britain’s largest force out of crisis. Mark Rowley vowed that it would be shaped by communities.