The Metropolitan Police has placed eight officers on suspension and has reported itself to the police oversight body, following an investigation by the BBC concerning activities at the Charing Cross police station.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has confirmed that it is looking into the actions of 11 current or former officers of the Met, along with one staff member who worked at the central London facility.

The allegations highlighted in an upcoming BBC Panorama documentary include charges of excessive force, sexist and discriminatory remarks, and the failure to report or confront inappropriate conduct, according to the watchdog’s statement.

This week, the BBC reached out to the Met for its comments regarding the documentary’s revelations.

The Met has announced that it has also suspended an additional staff member and taken two active officers off frontline roles.

The claims also involve an officer who was with the Met at the time in question but has since moved to another police force.

The alleged misconduct is said to have occurred both while on duty and off between August 2024 and January 2025, involving officers from the rank of police constable to sergeant.

The IOPC has received a referral from another police department concerning the behavior of the former Met officer who had been stationed at Charing Cross before transferring.

Amanda Rowe, the director of the IOPC, remarked, “These allegations are troubling and involve a significant number of individuals, which we recognize will raise public apprehension, especially after our prior investigation into similar issues at the same station.”

Met Police Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist characterized the reported behavior as “appalling.”

He stated that the Met is taking “prompt measures to dismantle the current custody unit at this station, making significant adjustments to leadership within our custody command and the Westminster leadership team.”

Mr. Twist added, “Moreover, we are broadly analyzing the leadership and cultural dynamics within these teams, guided by Professional Standards and senior management, to identify any further issues.”

In 2022, the IOPC uncovered “shocking” behaviors within the same police station, including the existence of a WhatsApp group exhibiting homophobic, racist, and misogynistic sentiments.

The revelations from Charing Cross were part of a series of troubling scandals that led former Met Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick to announce her resignation from the position in February 2022.