Time's Up for Rowley: The Met Faces a Reckoning
As the pivotal March 2024 Casey Review Conference looms, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowleyfinds himself in a critical position. Baroness Louise Casey's five tests for police reform represent a make-or-break moment for the Metropolitan Police. Should Rowley fail to meet these benchmarks, he should resign. As Casey herself warned, the Met is "drinking in the last chance saloon", and failure would not only demand his resignation but would also lead to serious discussions on breaking up the Metropolitan Police Service to ensure transparency, accountability, and public trust.
The Five Casey Tests: Rowley’s Last Stand
The Baroness Casey Review, initiated after the tragic murder of Sarah Everard by a serving Met officer, highlighted severe structural problems within the force. The five tests for reform provide Rowley with a final opportunity to demonstrate meaningful progress:
- Leadership: Rowley must prove his leadership can instigate lasting systemic reform, from the top down.
- Culture and Values: The toxic culture of misogyny, racism, and bullying in the Met needs dismantling, with new values deeply embedded across the force.
- Diversity in Policing: Despite recruitment efforts, BAME officers represent just 10.5% of new recruits, while 9.9% of BAME officers are leaving the force. Essentially, for every ten BAME joiners, nine leave. This stagnation in diversifying the force underlines the Met’s failure to retain officers from ethnic minority backgrounds.
- Accountability: The disproportionate handling of police misconduct, especially targeting Black officers, remains a significant issue. Black officers are nearly twice as likely to face misconduct investigations compared to their white colleagues (Home Office, 2024).
- Public Trust: Restoring public confidence is paramount, and progress will be assessed at the March 2024 Casey Review Conference.
If Rowley fails to meet these tests, Baroness Casey has made it clear: he should step down. The APA concurs, as the community has already concluded that the Met has repeatedly failed Londoners, and nothing between now and March 2025 will change that without drastic reform.
London’s Black Communities Have Lost Patience
Baroness Casey’s five tests offer one final chance for reform, but many in London’s Black communities feel the moment for meaningful change has long passed. From institutional racism to a deeply ingrained toxic culture, Londoners have lost faith in the Met. If Rowley cannot deliver by March, his resignation will be a necessity, and the conversation must shift toward breaking up the Met to create more transparent, locally accountable policing structures.
This isn’t speculation—the community has already decided. They want radical change now, not another round of empty promises.
Truth and Reconciliation: An Essential Step
Any genuine reform process must include truth and reconciliation, as recommended by Baroness Casey. This process would address the long history of injustices experienced by Black and ethnic minority communities and help rebuild the trust needed to transform policing in London.
The APA is currently developing a community-driven response to this, ensuring the process is grounded in the lived experiences of those most affected by police failures. Baroness Casey has emphasised that the price of truth and reconciliation will be high, but without it, reform efforts will lack legitimacy. This is an essential component of any future reforms, and it cannot be ignored.
NBPA Boycott: The Alarm Bell Ringing
The National Black Police Association (NBPA) recently announced a boycott of BAME recruitment efforts, citing the toxic work environment and a lack of meaningful action on racial issues. Despite efforts to improve diversity, Black and ethnic minority officers continue to be disproportionately targeted by misconduct investigations, limiting their career progression.
This boycott is a clear indicator of the depth of dissatisfaction within the force, further underscoring the urgency for reform. If BAME officers don’t feel safe and supported in their workplace, how can the Met hope to recruit and retain a diverse workforce?
Sir Mark Rowley: A Commissioner on Borrowed Time?
Rowley's tenure has raised concerns, particularly regarding his appearances at Policy Exchange, a conservative think tank. His involvement with right-wing political agendas has drawn criticism, casting doubt on his ability to remain impartial. This is a level of politicisation not seen in the role since Sir Paul Condon.
Moreover, Rowley has avoided holding major meetings with London’s Black communities since his appointment, preferring to host carefully curated, small local events with hand-picked audiences—many of whom are linked to projects funded by the Met, the Mayor’s Office, or the Government. This has only deepened the sense of disconnect.
In contrast, the APA has refused funding from these sources to maintain our independence and credibility, a demand echoed by the communities we serve. Rowley's reluctance to engage meaningfully is indicative of how out of touch his leadership is with the real issues facing London’s Black and marginalised groups.
London Policing Board: Toothless Oversight
The London Policing Board, which meets four times a year, has proven ineffective in holding the Met accountable. Despite the inclusion of Black board members, they lack the resources or capacity to properly scrutinise the Commissioner and the force. This lack of real accountability only reinforces the need for structural reform.
Mayor Khan’s Delay on Global Black Thrive’s Report: A Missed Opportunity
A further example of the failure to confront difficult truths lies with Mayor Sadiq Khan and his delayed publication of the Global Black Thrive report on police accountability. This consultation, which was meant to assess police accountability in London, has been held back for over a year, reportedly because the Mayor was dissatisfied with the community’s critical feedback.
This delay has damaged the reputation of Global Black Thrive, an organisation respected for its work on race and mental health, and left participants in the consultation process without any conclusion. The refusal to publish this report symbolises a wider hesitation to confront uncomfortable realities and move forward with genuine reform.
Kaya Comer-Schwartz: A Glimmer of Hope?
The recent appointment of Kaya Comer-Schwartz as Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime has provided some hope. With a proven track record in transforming youth justice services and securing vital funding for survivors of violence against women and girls, she is well-positioned to effect change. The APA welcomes her appointment and believes she can play a critical role in shaping the future of policing in London.
However, her appointment may have come too late to deliver the meaningful change needed before March 2025. While her leadership offers potential, the scale of the crisis at the Met demands urgent action.
Breaking Up the Met: Time for Radical Solutions
If the Met fails the Casey Review tests, it’s time to seriously consider breaking up the force. The Met is too large, bureaucratic, and resistant to reform. Smaller, locally accountable forces would allow for greater transparency and more meaningful community oversight. Decentralising the Met is not a radical step—it’s a necessary one to restore public trust.
Labour’s Responsibility: Ensure Casey Sees It Through
With Labour now in government, it is critical that Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Policing Minister Diana Johnson ensure that Baroness Casey remains in place to finish the job she started. Rumours of her replacement are deeply concerning, as Casey enjoys overwhelming credibility among Londoners and the wider public.
Her roadmap is the key to transforming the Met, and removing her now would undermine public confidence and the entire reform process. Labour must resist any political temptation to disrupt this critical work.
Conclusion: The Clock is Ticking
Baroness Casey’s five tests provide a clear path for reform. But if Rowley fails, his resignation will be inevitable, and the conversation will turn to breaking up the Met. The APA believes this is the direction the community wants, and the clock is ticking for meaningful change.
Londoners deserve a police force that is accountable, transparent, and reflective of the communities it serves. If Rowley cannot deliver, it’s time to dismantle the Met and rebuild it for the future.
Who is Lee Jasper?
For over 40 years, I have worked in police accountability and race relations, always guided by a deep commitment to serve my community. As a servant leader, I prioritise listening and learning from the most marginalised. I have held roles as Director for Policing for London, Senior Political Adviser to the Mayor of London, and Special Adviser to five Home Secretaries. Now, as a full-time strategic consultant, I continue to focus on critical issues affecting Black, Asian, and marginalised communities.
References:
- NBPA (2024). Recruitment and Retention Data. National Black Police Association.
- Home Office (2024). Misconduct Rates and Police Accountability Data. UK Home Office Report.
- Baroness Casey Review (2023). Metropolitan Police Review Findings. UK Government Publications.
- Global Black Thrive (2024). Consultation Report on Police Accountability in London. Global Black Thrive Initiative.
