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A former 999 call-handler has alleged that the Metropolitan Police has failed to uphold its commitment to listen to whistleblowers. This accusation followed the reinstatement of a colleague she had reported, who was initially dismissed but later returned to his position.

Issy Vine is pursuing legal action against the police force for constructive dismissal, citing repeated inappropriate remarks from a fellow call-handler, including referring to a sexual assault victim as a “slut.” Although the colleague was terminated for gross misconduct in November 2023, an appeal resulted in his reinstatement.

Ms. Vine stated that management informed her the initial disciplinary committee had been overly influenced by the Casey Review, which identified the Met as having systemic issues of misogyny, racism, and homophobia.

While acknowledging the “discriminatory comments” were “completely unacceptable,” the Met also noted that the outcome of the misconduct proceedings underwent a “comprehensive review.”

Hailing from Wimbledon in south-west London, Ms. Vine wrote an open letter to Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, accusing the police force of merely performing “box-ticking” exercises with internal initiatives and insisting on the need for “meaningful change.”

She expressed her disbelief at her colleague’s remarks, particularly since they occurred shortly after the publication of Baroness Casey’s report, along with the Met’s promises to address toxic behaviors.

“It was front-page news on our computers when we logged in: responses from Mark Rowley on the Casey Review, the review itself, and the campaign against violence towards women and girls,” she recalled. “We were emphasizing that we wanted to eradicate misogyny, sexism, racism, and homophobia.”

Ms. Vine described her astonishment at her colleague’s audacity in making such comments, leading her to initially suspect it might be some sort of internal evaluation of whether staff would act against such behavior.

After filing a complaint the following day, she learned that the colleague had been investigated and dismissed for gross misconduct, only to later find out he had successfully appealed the decision. Instead of termination, he received a written warning, as leaders deemed it “too harsh” to remove him from his position.

“I was in disbelief and utterly confused. I had so many questions: ‘Is he coming back to work? Did you really not believe me?'” she expressed. “I genuinely couldn’t wrap my head around it. Nothing about it aligned with the Met’s stated stance on what they stand against.”

Ms. Vine stated that the colleague’s return left her feeling ” outraged and distressed.”

“It shattered everything I stood for and aspired to be,” she said. “I felt like a fraud, forced to return to a workplace that’s pretending to care about issues like hate crimes, misogyny, sexism, and racism.”

After submitting a grievance against the Met Police, Ms. Vine resigned in December, feeling she could not continue, particularly with concerns about potentially working alongside the man again.

She is pursuing damages for constructive dismissal, sexual harassment, retaliation for whistleblowing, and a lack of reasonable accommodations.

“I joined with the intention of creating positive change within the force, and I was naïve to believe I could make a difference,” she remarked. “I gave it a shot, but ultimately I failed, so now I’m taking this route.”

“They say change begins from within, but that’s simply not true. Real change is unattainable if you’re not heard or considered within such an institution.”

Sir Mark has vowed to eliminate “rogue officers” and enhance leadership and training to address unacceptable conduct within the Met.

An internal hotline managed by Crimestoppers was established to encourage whistleblowers to raise concerns, and Sir Mark previously indicated that more individuals are coming forward as they feel more supported by leadership.

Ms. Vine—who told BBC London that her hearing is scheduled for January 2027—disclosed that her experiences have led her to distrust the police force.

“Yes, Mark Rowley can assert the importance of taking whistleblowers seriously and providing them with support. Yet, I received none of that,” she stated.

“All these empty promises from those at the top never trickle down to the ground-level personnel who are actually carrying out the work.”

Ms. Vine also mentioned that she faced criticism from some officers and Met staff for publicly discussing her case, fearing it might deter victims from coming forward.

“That’s not my responsibility,” she remarked. “I refuse to be a scapegoat for the police’s image issues; if people don’t trust the police, that’s on the police, not on me.”

In response, Met Police Commander Jason Prins stated: “These discriminatory comments were completely unacceptable, which is why the matter was brought before a misconduct hearing.

“We take seriously the concerns raised regarding the outcome of the misconduct process, and it has been thoroughly reviewed.”