Met vetting inquiry launched to review failures in police recruitment

Published: 12 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

The Home Secretary has ordered an independent inquiry into potential vetting failures at the Metropolitan Police, amid serious concerns over the recruitment of hundreds of officers who may have joined without proper scrutiny. The move comes after revelations that up to 300 recruits hired between 2016 and 2023 may have undergone substandard or incomplete vetting processes, raising questions about the integrity and safety of Britain’s largest police force.

The inquiry, to be conducted by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, will examine whether these recruits were adequately assessed before gaining police powers. Vetting is intended to identify applicants with criminal convictions, prior cautions, concerning associations, or financial vulnerabilities that could compromise integrity. The review follows an internal Met investigation, Operation Jorica, which began several months ago and flagged potential issues among recruits hired during this seven-year period.

The Metropolitan Police has faced repeated scrutiny after multiple scandals severely damaged its reputation. Officers previously allowed into the force despite clear risks include Wayne Couzens, who abducted and murdered Sarah Everard in 2021, and David Carrick, who perpetrated a prolonged campaign of rape and sexual violence against women while exploiting his position. These cases have intensified concerns over the effectiveness of recruitment and vetting procedures.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has been kept fully briefed on the review, with officials monitoring the Met’s progress. Sources indicate that other police forces might have encountered similar vetting errors, suggesting the issue could extend beyond London. The Met has undertaken urgent revetting of recruits appointed during the 2016–2023 period, seeking to restore public trust and ensure officer reliability.

Much of the contested recruitment occurred during the police uplift programme, which aimed to hire 20,000 officers between 2020 and 2023 to address prior staffing cuts of 20,000 under the Conservative government. Rapid recruitment under this programme may have intensified pressure on vetting processes, potentially allowing underqualified or unsuitable candidates to join.

The vetting concerns predate Mark Rowley’s appointment as commissioner in September 2022 and relate to the leadership tenures of Dame Cressida Dick and her predecessor, Lord Hogan-Howe. Since Rowley took charge, approximately 1,500 officers have left the force as part of his efforts to restore professionalism and rebuild public confidence. The Met has declined to comment on whether any officers affected by the vetting review have resigned or been suspended, maintaining only that the process forms part of broader work on standards, professionalism, and accountability.

A 2022 report commissioned by the Met and authored by Louise Casey highlighted weaknesses in recruitment practices that enabled individuals suspected of serious criminal offences, including sexual assault and domestic abuse, to join or remain in the force. This report underscored systemic failures within the Met and reinforced calls for rigorous oversight of recruitment and vetting practices.

The forthcoming independent inquiry seeks to provide clarity on these failures, assess accountability, and recommend measures to prevent recurrence. Police leaders stress that restoring public trust is critical, and this review represents a decisive step toward safeguarding standards and reinforcing confidence in law enforcement. With rising public concern over officer conduct, the findings are expected to influence recruitment and vetting reforms across the UK.

The Met’s own statements emphasise a commitment to professional standards: “This review is part of our determined effort to raise standards across the organisation and increase trust and confidence within our communities,” the statement said, reflecting ongoing initiatives to ensure that officers meet rigorous ethical and operational benchmarks.

As the investigation unfolds, the public and policymakers alike will monitor its outcomes closely, recognising the significance of ensuring that all officers possess the integrity, reliability, and judgement required to protect communities. This review represents not only a reckoning for past failings but a foundational step in re-establishing a culture of accountability, vigilance, and trust within one of Britain’s most prominent policing institutions.