Met chief ‘can’t promise women reporting sexual offence will not meet officer accused of wrongdoing’

The head of the Metropolitan Police has admitted he cannot guarantee that women reporting sexual offences will not encounter an officer accused of wrongdoing.

Sir Mark Rowley was asked if he could promise that a woman visiting a police station to report a sexual offence would not meet a police officer whose past behaviour was now under review, or who was tolerating similar behaviour in their department.

“I can’t, I’m not going to make a promise that I can’t stick to,” he told Good Morning Britain. “I’m going to put in place ruthless systems to squeeze out those who shouldn’t be with us.