Met Police review possible vetting failures for 300 recruits
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The Met Police are urgently reviewing vetting practices after concerns that around 300 recruits may have joined between 2016 and 2023 without proper background checks.
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Police officers carry a protester during a protest to support Palestine Action in London on September 6, 2025. (AP)
The Metropolitan Police are urgently investigating whether hundreds of recruits joined the force without adequate vetting, raising fresh concerns about the integrity of Britain’s largest police service, The Guardian reported.
Scotland Yard confirmed it is reviewing hiring practices between 2016 and 2023, a period that includes the government’s police uplift programme. Under the initiative, launched in 2020, the Conservative government sought to recruit 20,000 officers in three years after years of cuts, putting heavy pressure on forces to expand quickly.
According to internal checks, about 300 officers may have received substandard or no vetting at all, meaning their criminal history, financial risks, or potential associations were not properly scrutinized.
Whitehall aware, independent inquiry considered
Officials inside Whitehall are aware of the issue, and sources say the Independent Office for Police Conduct or His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary may be asked to carry out an external investigation, according to The Guardian.
The possible failings predate Commissioner Mark Rowley, who took office in September 2022 after Cressida Dick’s resignation. The Met itself discovered the potential errors earlier this year, but they have not previously been made public.
A spokesperson for the force said, “We can confirm there is a review ongoing as part of our wider work on standards, vetting and professionalism. This is part of our determined effort to raise professional standards across the organisation and increase trust and confidence within our communities.”
History of vetting failures
The Met has faced repeated criticism for weak vetting processes. A 2022 review by Louise Casey found officers suspected of serious criminal offenses, including sexual assault and domestic abuse, had been able to join or remain in the force.
Commissioner Rowley has previously admitted, “There must be hundreds of people that shouldn’t be here, who should be thrown out.” Since taking over, more than 1,400 officers and staff have been removed in an effort to raise standards.
The issue also recalls the case of Wayne Couzens, the Met officer who kidnapped and murdered Sarah Everard in 2021. A government-commissioned report later revealed he should never have been hired due to earlier vetting red flags.
Impact on trust, confidence
Police chiefs fear the latest revelations could deal another blow to public trust, already shaken by scandals and misconduct cases. While recruits still in probation may be easier to dismiss if found unsuitable, removing officers with full employment rights will be more challenging.
The Met has pledged to urgently re-vet the affected recruits to prevent further risks to public confidence.
