“The breaches of trust and failure to properly protect people are shameful but will not come as a surprise to many of our residents, particularly Black peoples and those from ethnic minorities, women, and the LGBTQ+ community. The report reveals what many know and experience already – racism, misogyny and homophobia are widespread and go unpunished. 

“In Royal Greenwich, we work closely with our local police force to keep the borough as safe as it can be. The report talks about compassionate and committed police officers serving communities on the frontline. We know and work with these officers every day, those who often go above and beyond the call of duty for Royal Greenwich residents. 

“But the Met as an institution is clearly broken, with the most damning findings and evidence from serving or former police officers themselves.   

“Policing must be by consent. Without public trust in transparency about police powers, their integrity in exercising those powers and their accountability for doing so, the Met as an institution cannot continue to exist without reforms.  

“The commitment by the Commissioner to make dramatic improvements in the culture, attitudes and structures within the Met is essential. Only this, and the implementation of the full recommendations in the report, without exception, will Londoners’ confidence in the police begin to be rebuilt. 

“To restore public confidence, the Met must challenge its internal systems, processes and beliefs – this includes accepting the report’s findings that it is institutionally racist, sexist and homophobic. Only then can real change begin.” 

Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich and Cllr Ann-Marie Cousins, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement.