The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has indicated that the costs associated with keeping “problematic officers” on paid leave—due to the lack of authority to dismiss them—could reach tens of millions of pounds annually.
This statement follows a High Court decision that determined the Metropolitan Police is unable to terminate officers who have lost their vetting clearance, a crucial background check aimed at identifying individuals who are deemed unsuitable for service.
During a session with the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee, Sir Mark Rowley mentioned that the force is in the process of preparing an appeal.
The Metropolitan Police initiated a review of allegations against its officers and staff amidst public backlash over incidents like the case of Wayne Couzens, a police officer who was convicted of kidnapping, raping, and murdering Sarah Everard.
Sir Mark emphasized the urgency for governmental action to amend regulations, enabling him to remove these problematic officers effectively.
At present, there are 29 officers who have lost their vetting status and are still on paid leave, in addition to 96 who have either been dismissed or have resigned.
He expressed concern regarding the financial implications of this situation, stating that the annual cost for those currently on paid leave is around £7 million. However, he cautioned that if regulations remain unchanged and more individuals enter the process, that figure will continue to escalate.
Describing the circumstances as frustrating, he added, “It’s critical to keep these individuals away from the streets and their colleagues.”
Sir Mark noted his efforts to advocate for a response from the Home Office, urging officials to actively engage in finding solutions.
“I am unrepentant for venturing into a legally ambiguous and untested area; the paramount concern is maintaining the integrity of the police,” he asserted.
The Metropolitan Police Federation, representing officers, commended the High Court’s ruling for establishing a process that is both fair and legally sound.
A spokesperson for the Home Office stated that they were “acting swiftly” to empower police forces to dismiss officers who cannot uphold their vetting clearance.
Moreover, Sir Mark informed the Police and Crime Committee that the Metropolitan Police continues to face “considerable” cuts to frontline services; however, he noted that the extent of these cuts would not be as severe as previously anticipated, thanks to additional government funding.
Last year, he had warned of a potential £450 million shortfall in funding, which could lead to significant consequences, including the loss of 2,300 officers and 400 staff.
In December, policing minister Diana Johnson announced an allocation of an additional £65 million for the Metropolitan Police through the National and International Capital City grant, which would help address costs associated with policing protests in London.
Sir Mark reported to the committee that this funding means the force is now £45 million better off than originally expected. However, he cautioned that many difficult decisions still lay ahead, including potential reductions in personnel.
He assured that critical areas such as neighborhood policing and public protection teams—focusing on violence against women and children—would be safeguarded, but he could not provide specifics on where other budget cuts might occur.
The Metropolitan Police has indicated that it may need to downsize units such as the Flying Squad, which deals with serious and organized crime, as well as the dogs unit, mounted branch, and policing of Royal Parks.
The mayor’s proposed budget includes raising average council tax bills by nearly £19 per year to support London’s police and fire services, which is projected to generate an additional £54 million for the police budget in 2025-26.
Sir Mark mentioned that the Metropolitan Police is “partway through the budget process,” and emphasized that it will take additional time to achieve clarity on budgetary matters.
