“The Rotten Apples vs The Real Protectors: What The Met Documentary Didn’t Show”.

Once again, the Metropolitan Police is in the spotlight, and once again, it is for all the wrong reasons. A documentary aired last night revealed behaviour that was not only revolting in itself, but equally shocking in the mentality that allowed it to go on unchallenged.

Misogyny was exposed in the most blatant of ways. Perhaps most disturbing of all, the truly horrific crime of rape was ridiculed. Why is it that rape is so often treated almost as if it has been decriminalised? Why is it spoken about in the same way as something as trivial as having your lunch money stolen at school – something to laugh off, rather than acknowledge as a heinous and life-shattering crime?

It is sickening to see men once again ridicule rape and deflect the responsibility back onto women. Watching this documentary will have made most women angry, but for survivors of sexual violence, the impact could only have been devastating. And the question must be asked of officers themselves: as police who witness trauma daily, do they not realise that their words and actions carry consequences?

The programme shone a light on some utterly awful practices. The hope is that by airing this rotten laundry, the culture will be forced to change. Yet, the issue runs deeper – it is a mentality ingrained in some men, a mentality exposed by the comments about a suspect who had kicked a pregnant woman in the stomach. As the female officer bravely pointed out, this kind of behaviour shows not just a lack of professionalism, but a complete lack of basic respect for women.

And this is not a culture limited to the police service. This is something that runs across our society. Eradicating it will not be the work of months, but of years. It is a mentality that fundamentally sees women as objects, rather than human beings.

For frontline Metropolitan Police officers, today will be another very difficult day. The vast majority of hardworking officers will once again bear the brunt of the failings of those who are not fit to wear the uniform. Across London, thousands of officers truly do incredible work every day – the exact opposite of what the documentary revealed. These are men and women who joined the service to make a difference and have done so. They go above and beyond to support their communities, often while already demoralised and broken by constant criticism.

That is why it is important to remember balance. The culture that tolerates misogyny and disrespect must be challenged and changed, but there are also countless officers who genuinely care and act with compassion. Yesterday’s programme did briefly show officers talking calmly with a man struggling with mental health problems, reassuring him and telling him they cared. These are the moments we need to build on and more of this should have been shown.

Praise for good work is often lacking, but it must be encouraged. Across London, there are countless officers who carry out remarkable work every single day. The challenge now is to ensure that their dedication and compassion is no longer overshadowed by the toxic culture exposed once again on national television.

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