Metropolitan police officers accused of sexual abuse can no longer be dismissed by having their vetting clearance removed, leaving the force in a ‘hopeless’ position.
Sergeant Lino Di Maria launched a legal challenge after having his vetting removed over sexual assault allegations, which he denies.
He argued having his vetting removed without the accusations being proved is a breach of his right to a fair trial, with the High Court ruling in his favour.
But the Metropolitan Police has said this will leave them in a ‘hopeless position’ and open up rogue officers being allowed to return to the force.
It comes as police leaders attempted to ‘clean up’ the force after a number of officers were found guilty of rape and murder.
Rapist officer David Carrick was found to be one of the UK’s worst sex offenders, and pleaded guilty to a total of 49 offences, including 24 counts of rape, against 12 women between 2003 and 2020.
Officer Wayne Couzens was jailed for life after being convicted of abducting, raping and murdering Sarah Everard in March 2021.
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: ‘Today’s ruling on the law has left policing in a hopeless position.
‘We now have no mechanism to rid the Met of officers who were not fit to hold vetting – those who cannot be trusted to work with women, or those who cannot be trusted to enter the homes of vulnerable people.
‘It is absolutely absurd that we cannot lawfully sack them.
‘This would not be the case in other sectors where staff have nothing like the powers comparable to police officers.’
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: ‘This decision has significant implications for the work the Met is now doing to clean up the force, raise standards and rid the police of all those unfit to serve.
‘No-one who has failed vetting should continue to serve in the force and we will work closely with the Commissioner, the Home Office and partners to assess the implications of this ruling.’
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