The courage of the journalist to go undercover into Charing Cross Police Station, and the work of all the team involved in the Panorama programme, should be applauded and remind us that first rate journalism is a bedrock of a civilised society.
It was also good to hear that the Police Chief, Mark Rowley did not try to minimise the vile attitudes and behaviour revealed in the programme. I hope he stays and goes further and faster to bring in the change that has been needed and promised for a very long time.
The violence, racism and misogynistic attitudes on display, go much further than just that station. There is something so deep rooted in the Met (and no doubt other police forces) that it is going to take a while to root out. As evident from the programme, these toxic male attitudes don’t disappear, they just go further out of sight. |