(Kirsty O’Connor/PA)
(Picture: PA Wire)More than half of Londoners do not trust the Metropolitan Police, a survey has found.
A YouGov study shared with the Standard shows fifty-one per cent of Londoners do not trust the force very much or at all, compared to forty-two per cent who say they do tend to trust them.
The figures come as the force reels from a string of scandals, including the case of serial rapist David Carrick, who this week received 36 life sentences after admitting 49 offences against twelve women while a serving police officer.
The survey shows the gap in trust widens with ethnic minority Londoners, as fifty-five per cent admit having little or no trust in the Met Police, compared to thirty-five per cent who say they have some trust in the force.
The poll also showed a gender gap in trust of individual officers, with fifty per cent of men trusting individual officers, compared to only forty-one per cent of women.
Older Londoners are more likely to have trust in the police than younger Londoners. For instance, while 53% of those aged 65 and above, and 51% of 50-64 year olds, have a lot or fair amount of trust in individual police officers, this falls to 36% among 18-24 year olds.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, who took on the role in September, is tasked with regaining the trust of the public following a series of damaging scandals.
They include the shocking kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by serving Met Police officer Wayne Couzens in 2021.
While a culture of sexism, racism, bullying and homophobia was uncovered in a damning report by police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation into misconduct at Charing Cross Police Station.
A separate damning review of disciplinary procedures also found officers and staff were getting away with misconduct and breaking the law.
Sir Mark Rowley previously apologised to the victims of Carrick, saying “lifting the stone” revealed “painful truths” that cannot be resolved overnight.
He said: “As we put in more resources, more assertive tactics, as we’re more open to people reporting incidents to us both from within the organisation and from the public, and as we more determinedly take on these cases, it will tackle the problems we face.
“But it won’t be rapid and it will be painful. In that context, we need your support and the support of the people of London.
“Please don’t lose heart as we confront these issues and as we do this necessary and painful work to finally rid the organisation of those who corrupt our integrity.”
He promised a thorough review of the force’s culture and professional standards in an effort to “root out” corrupt officers such as Carrick.
He published his two-year plan to improve standards and rebuild trust in the force last month– with assurances such as investing in diversity to become an “anti-racist” organisation.
