The Metropolitan Police has been rapped by an independent watchdog over its handling of missing child cases, telling the force it is putting vulnerable minors at risk.
In a rare and “urgent” intervention, the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary issued two “accelerated causes of concern” to Met chiefs over “significant failures” in the force’s handling of missing children cases.
The red alerts—only issued when there is a risk to public safety—stated that officers were failing to respond adequately to reports of missing children and “effectively” investigate if they are at risk of sexual or criminal exploitation.
The inspectorate also stated it was “particularly concerned” about the frequent use of “victim-blaming language” by officers and the “potential impact this lack of understanding” can have on police investigations which it said is leaving vulnerable children “unprotected.”
The inspectorate is currently carrying out an inspection into the Met’s handling of child sexual and criminal exploitation, commissioned by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.
While a final report has yet to be published, the watchdog was so concerned with some findings that it ordered the Met to urgently adopt two recommendations to address the serious concerns.
In a statement, the inspectorate said: “During this inspection, [His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services] HMICFRS identified several problems with the Met’s approach to child protection. Because two of these concerns are so serious, the inspectorate has decided to report them now, rather than waiting until the full inspection report is published next year. These are known as accelerated causes of concern.”
Children in Care
The inspectorate found that, when children were reported missing the Met “often” didn’t take account of the risk posed to them or the harm they may suffer.This included regular disappearances of at-risk children, including those in care.
It also stated that the force’s “policy and guidance” for dealing with missing people didn’t have a clear explanation of what “high risk” meant.
It said: “We also found that many staff and officers responsible for grading risk showed a limited understanding of the links between children who go missing regularly and their criminal and sexual exploitation.
“Officers and staff didn’t act quickly enough, if at all, to locate children who go missing regularly to make sure they are safe. And when these children did return home, the force frequently made no attempt to see them in-person or try to understand why they went missing.”
It also noted concerns about “the frequency with which officers and staff use victim-blaming language.”
“This highlights that officers and staff may not fully understand the potential risks to children,” the report said. “And this lack of understanding can result in ineffective police investigations, with important lines of enquiry being overlooked and children left unprotected.”
Deadline
It also found “many cases” of officers failing to promptly investigate reports of missing children, even failing to complete reasonable lines of inquiry.The inspectorate also found that on several occasions, no investigation plan was in place and supervisors didn’t review investigations sufficiently.
It added: “Frequently, the force failed to update children and/or their parents or carers during investigations. And when children didn’t support an investigation, the force didn’t always consider progressing the case without their support.
“This is important because when forces continue investigations without the child’s support, there is the potential to safeguard them and prevent perpetrators from committing further offences.”
The inspectorate said the Met failed on a number of occasions to comply with the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime in England and Wales by not completing a victim needs assessment following a report or investigation.
It said, “This is important because children’s needs may not always be met, and they may disengage with investigations, withdraw their support for prosecutions and lose faith in the criminal justice process.”
The Met has been given two months to address the concerns and implement the inspectorate’s recommendations.
They include improving its investigations when children are at risk of—or harmed by—criminal or sexual exploitation.
Monitor
Police bosses have also been told to improve how the force identifies and assesses risks, and how it responds, when children are reported missing.In a statement released alongside the accelerated causes of concern, His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary Lee Freeman said the role of the police in protecting children from harm “should not be understated”.
“Children who go missing or are at risk of exploitation are some of the most vulnerable in society.,” he said.
“It is therefore concerning that the Metropolitan Police’s current approach to child protection requires immediate attention.”
Mr. Freeman said that while positive examples of good work by committed officers and staff were observed, the force needed to do “much more” to ensure it responds effectively to missing children, and those subjected to exploitation.
“The force must make sure that it is focused on the risks to children, and that officers and staff are also equipped to deal with those risks,” he added.
He said the inspectorate would “closely monitor” the force while it implements the recommendations.
Series of Scandals
The inspectorate intervention is the latest blow to hit the embattled police force, which is clambering to restore public confidence after a series of scandals.Since taking on the role of Metropolitan Police Commissioner last year, Sir Mark Rowley has been pushing for change after estimating there were hundreds of rogue officers in his force, but the rules in place meant he was powerless to dismiss them.
His comments followed the jailing of serving Met police officer Wayne Couzens for the 2021 abduction and murder of Sarah Everard and the unmasking of former police constable David Carrick as a serial abuser and rapist.
The Home Office carried out a review of the police disciplinary system after the high-profile cases.
Plans to overhaul the disciplinary process, announced in August, included the possibility of police officers in England and Wales facing automatic dismissal if found guilty of gross misconduct.
It was suggested that chief constables or other senior officers could have greater powers to root out and sack rogue staff from their forces as part of reforms which would see them again preside over misconduct hearings.
Force bosses could also have the right to challenge decisions, the Home Office said, while law changes would ensure officers who fail vetting checks can be sacked.
Last week, the force revealed that 335 of its officers are waiting to face gross misconduct hearings.
These are disciplinary cases where an officer has been accused of a serious breach in their standard of professional behaviour and could be sacked if gross misconduct is proven.
This backlog is a “significant increase compared to this time last year,” and the Met wants 30 misconduct hearings and 30 gross incompetence hearings to take place per month, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said.
