Statement on BBC Panorama police misconduct revelations

Yesterday’s (1st October 2025) BBC Panorama: Undercover in the Police reveals terrifying levels of misogyny, violence, racism and contempt towards the public. This is not a few individuals behaving badly. It is a culture that has been normalised and allowed to go unchecked, and it completely destroys trust.

The programme includes a case where a victim of rape and domestic abuse was dismissed by a male sergeant and the suspect released, even as a female officer tried to challenge the decision.  

Trust in the police is already at crisis point. Domestic abuse and violence against women and girls remain at epidemic levels in the UK. Only around one in five victims reports abuse to the police, which underlines just how fragile trust and confidence are.

How can victims trust they will be listened to, believed and protected by a force that allows people to abuse their positions of power?

We recognise the actions the Met Police Commissioner has taken to date, but it is nowhere near enough. There have been numerous inquiries and reviews into police misconduct. There have been statements of intent and apologies. Enough warm words. We need visible, measurable change.  

Nothing short of a wholesale culture shift – from the very top of policing down to the frontline. When we say transformation in police culture, this is what it must mean: 

• Top to bottom accountability – clear standards, swift consequences, and leaders who act when harm is shown. Supervisors and senior officers held to account for the behaviour of their teams. 

• Fit-for-purpose misconduct systems – track and act on patterns, not just single incidents. Automatic suspension pending investigation, with fast-track discipline where appropriate. 

• Recruitment and re-vetting that screens in integrity and screens out risk – rigorous background checks, periodic re-vetting, and psychological screening to prevent those drawn to abusing power from entering or remaining in the service. 

• Specialist training with teeth – mandatory, independent training on domestic abuse, coercive control, racism and misogyny, designed and delivered with survivor voice at its heart – and backed by supervision, practice audits and consequences for failure to meet standards. 

• Transparency and visibility – open data on complaints, outcomes and dismissals, regular audits of body-worn video, independent oversight, protection for whistleblowers, and use of barred lists across forces. No more hiding places. 

• Consistency on police-perpetrated abuse – clear national standards, comparable data and published outcomes so officer-perpetrated domestic abuse is handled consistently and transparently across forces. 

• Victim-centred, trauma-informed practice – believe and safeguard victims, including those reporting police-perpetrated abuse. Clear routes to independent reporting and support. 

SafeLives provides specialist cultural training on domestic abuse for police, known as DA Matters. We have previously delivered DA Matters to Met officers. We urge the Met and all forces to continue to invest in ongoing, independent training on domestic abuse and coercive control, alongside mandatory training on racism and misogyny.

It is about culture. It is about accountability. And it is about leadership.

Victims and survivors deserve a police service that embodies integrity, respect and protection – not one that betrays trust and perpetuates harm. 

We call on the Home Office, police leaders and oversight bodies to act now. Let this be the moment we can point to, when leadership chose action and measurable change began.