Track outages and protect against spam, fraud, and abuse
Measure audience engagement and site statistics to understand how our services are used and enhance the quality of those services
If you choose to “Accept all,” we will also use cookies and data to
Develop and improve new services
Deliver and measure the effectiveness of ads
Show personalized content, depending on your settings
Show personalized ads, depending on your settings
If you choose to “Reject all,” we will not use cookies for these additional purposes.
Non-personalized content is influenced by things like the content you’re currently viewing, activity in your active Search session, and your location. Non-personalized ads are influenced by the content you’re currently viewing and your general location. Personalized content and ads can also include more relevant results, recommendations, and tailored ads based on past activity from this browser, like previous Google searches. We also use cookies and data to tailor the experience to be age-appropriate, if relevant.
Select “More options” to see additional information, including details about managing your privacy settings. You can also visit g.co/privacytools at any time.
More than 1,000 Metropolitan Police officers are currently suspended or on restricted duties, the force has revealed.
Over the next few years, about 60 could potentially be sacked each month, Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy told reporters.
Of those, 30 will be undergoing misconduct proceedings, while the other half will be examined for alleged incompetence.
There are "undoubtedly hundreds" of staff the Met has "real concerns about", Mr Cundy said.
Some of those facing criminal charges are not expected to go to trial before 2025, the force has said.
Some 275 are awaiting gross misconduct hearings, a significant proportion of which involve alleged violence against women and girls.
The Met has about 34,000 officers, of whom 201 are suspended, with 860 on restricted duties.
Admitting the figures were "stark", Mr Cundy commented: "That's over 1,000 police officers - nearly the size of a small police force in other places in the country.
"It is a significant number, which is why the commissioner and I, and others, know we need to do things as quickly as we can."
Advertisement
He added: "This is going to take one, two or more years to root out those who are corrupt."
In the last year, 100 officers have been sacked for gross misconduct, up 66% on the normal rate.
The number of reports from the public and officers of alleged misconduct has doubled.
On Monday, Home Secretary Suella Braverman announced plans to make it easier for police chiefs to sack rogue officers.
They include bringing in a presumption that those found to have committed gross misconduct will be sacked.
After Carrick was given a life sentence for dozens of sexual offences, 1,600 cases were reviewed in which officers had faced allegations of domestic or sexual violence over the past 10 years but no action was taken.
There are currently about 450 live investigations ongoing into cases that were reviewed.
Baroness Casey also said the Met's Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command - in which Couzens and Carrick both served - was a "dark corner" of the Met and should be disbanded.
A review of the police squad - comprising around 1,000 officers - has now been completed, with the Met saying a third of its workforce had been replaced.
Deputy assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor said the ambition was to have two-thirds of the unit made up of new staff by December 2025.
Meanwhile, officers will no longer be able to remain in the squad indefinitely, but will instead be rotated round to other parts of the Met every eight years.
Mr Taylor said unhealthy work cultures had developed in the unit, partly due to a lack of diversity, poor leadership and a sense of disconnection from the rest of the force.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
1:56
'Met police should be abolished'
"The officers need to be better supervised, they need to be better trained, and they need to be better equipped," he added.
The Met also revealed 100 officers have been sacked for gross misconduct in the past year, up by 66% on the normal rate.
Meanwhile, 275 officers are awaiting a gross misconduct hearing, a significant proportion of which involved alleged violence against women and girls, compared to 136 last year.
Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews
Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter
Russell Brand’s final tour dates have been postponed as the Metropolitan Police has received a report of an alleged sexual assault in Soho in 2003 following a number of accusations that have been made against the comedian.
Scheduled to perform at three more venues in September, a statement from Brand’s Bipolarisation show’s promoters said on Monday: “We are postponing these few remaining addiction charity fundraiser shows, we don’t like doing it – but we know you’ll understand.”
It came as a spokesperson for the Met confirmed officers are in contact with a woman who reported an alleged sexual assault to the force on Sunday after Brand was accused of rape, sexual assaults and emotionally abusing four women between 2006 and 2013.
The comedian has vehemently denied the “very serious criminal allegations” and said his relationships were “absolutely always consensual”. His father, Ron Brand, has also jumped to his defence, describing the accusations as a “vendetta”.
If you have information in relation to the allegations against Russell Brand which you would like to share with The Independent’s reporting team, please email newsdesk@independent.co.uk
YouTube suspends monetisation of Russell Brand’s channel
YouTube has suspended the monetisation of Russell Brand’s channel for “violating our Creator Responsibility policy”, the Google-owned company said.
YouTube said the suspension of monetisation was because of the allegations made against Brand.
In a statement, YouTube said: “We have suspended monetisation on Russell Brand’s channel for violating our Creator Responsibility policy. If a creator’s off-platform behaviour harms our users, employees or ecosystem, we take action to protect the community.”
The company said that it had suspended Brand’s channel from the YouTube Partner Program “following serious allegations against the creator. This action means the channel is no longer able to monetise on YouTube”.
The decision applies to all channels that may be owned or operated by the 48-year-old, it added.
Russell Brand’s father accuses BBC of pursuing a ‘vendetta’ against his son
The father of Russell Brand has accused the BBC of pursuing a “vendetta” against his son who has been accused of rape and sexual assault.
Ron Brand asked why the BBC was leading its coverage on “unproven accusations of 15 years ago” about his son.
Mr Brand wrote: “Is this seriously the most important thing happening in the World? Immigrants? Cost of Living? 10s of thousands killed in Ukraine? “Who is Prioritising at BBC News? Who is really driving this Vendetta?”
In a separate post, he added: “With many Struggling to pay bills. The unproven accusations of 15 Years ago take lead on BBC News?”
Recap: Sean Lock expresses ‘fears’ daughters ‘take someone like Brand home’
A clip of the late comedian Sean Lock discussing his contempt for Russell Brand has gone viral in the wake of criminal allegations being made against the 48-year-old comedian.
Last weekend, Brand was the subject of an expose in The Times, The Sunday Times and a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary, featuring allegations of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse from four women.
The alleged crimes took place between 2006 and 2013. Brand has denied all claims.
The clip in question is taken from the Channel 4 comedy panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats, and originally aired in November 2014. In the footage, Lock says that he “hates” Brand because of his role as a father, and “fears” his daughters would “bring someone like that home”.
Kristen Bell comments about Russell Brand resurface after sex abuse allegations
Shortly after the release of “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” Kristen Bell told interviewers that she had to “intimidate” her co-star Russell Brand to make sure he understood she was not interested in a sexual relationship with him during the shoot.
Her recollections of her time with the British actor and comedian have resurfaced in the wake of allegations that he raped and sexually assaulted a number of women at the peak of his fame.
Brand has denied the allegations.
During an interview with the Scottish Daily Record, Bell said she was aware of Brand’s “womanising” and made it clear to him that she was not going to tolerate his advances.
Recap: Downing Street describes Brand allegations as ‘serious and concerning’
Downing Street described the allegations made against Russell Brand as “very serious and concerning”.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “These are very serious and concerning allegations.
“The Met Police has asked anyone who believes they have been a victim of a sexual assault to come forward to speak to officers.
“As the Foreign Secretary said over the weekend, people should feel able to raise concerns where they have them and know they will be treated seriously and treated with sensitivity.
“The Prime Minister has been clear there should never be any space for harassment, regardless of where it is found.”
Watch: Russell Brand’s former manager ‘surprised’ at allegations: ‘Never had any complaints’
John Noel told Channel 4 News he parted company with Brand around 2014 and said he could not comment on the allegations for legal reasons, before saying: “I’ve never had any complaints about him, other than turning up late. Yeah, that kind of thing. Standard stuff in our business.”
Russell Brand’s former manager has said he was “very surprised” to hear about the sexual assault allegations against his previous client. John Noel told Channel 4 News he parted company with Brand around 2014 and said he could not comment on the allegations for legal reasons, before saying: “I’ve never had any complaints about him, other than turning up late. Yeah, that kind of thing. Standard stuff in our business.” Brand denies all allegations made against him. If you have information in relation to the allegations against Russell Brand which you would like to share with The Independent’s reporting team, please email news@independent.co.uk
Russell Brand ended marriage to Katy Perry over text 14 months after lavish wedding
Katy Perry’s short-lived relationship with Russell Brand prompted a slew of headlines when the seemingly unlikely couple were first linked back in 2009 – and even more when they broke up just 14 months after their wedding.
Perry, 38, has not addressed the allegations against her former husband. However, she has spoken in the past about the circumstances surrounding her split from Brand, and previously revealed that he called time on their relationship over text
Kristen Bell comments on Brand resurface after allegations
Shortly after the release of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," Kristen Bell told interviewers that she had to "intimidate" her co-star Russell Brand to make sure he understood she was not interested in a sexual relationship with him during the shoot.
Her recollections of her time with the British actor and comedian have been dredged up in the wake of allegations that he raped and sexually assaulted a number of women at the peak of his fame.
A joint investigation by The Times, The Sunday Times, and Channel 4 Dispatches highlighted the stories of four women — including one who was a minor at the time — who say Brand either raped or sexually assaulted them between 2006 and 2013.
People needing emergency care are being advised to use accident-and-emergency units as normal or call 999.
For other health concerns, 111 or GP services should be used - although they could be disrupted, as some junior doctors work as GP trainees.
Routine services, including non-emergency operations and appointments, are expected to be significantly disrupted.
Patients should have been told about any postponements in advance.
During their 48-hour walkout, consultants will provide "Christmas Day" cover - emergency services will be staffed and there will be some basic level of cover on the wards.
When junior doctors join them on Wednesday there will be a similar arrangement for them.
Junior doctors account for nearly half NHS doctors - from medics fresh out of university to those sometimes with 10 years' experience.
On Thursday, when the consultant strike ends, junior doctors will stage a full strike, meaning consultants will have to be drafted across to provide cover.
NHS England medical director Prof Sir Stephen Powis said: "The NHS has simply never seen this kind of industrial action in its history. It poses an enormous challenge."
Matthew Taylor, of the NHS Confederation, said he feared ministers were underestimating the risks of the strikes, describing the situation as dangerous.
Hospitals were reporting some patients were facing having treatments and appointments cancelled for the second or third time, he said.
What impact will this have?
This is the third walkout by consultants and the sixth by junior doctors. In each case, significant amounts of routine work has had to be rescheduled.
Some hospitals have reported up to half their normal levels of activity have had to be put off during the strikes.
Nearly one million appointments and treatments, including some cancer care, have been postponed because of industrial action since December.
This includes disruption caused by walkouts by other staff groups including nurses, radiographers and ambulance workers.
But the doctors' walkouts have caused the most disruption.
Last week, the Shelford Group, which represents 10 of the biggest hospital trusts in the country, warned the scale of the disruption now being seen had "inevitably heightened the risk of harm" to patients.
But plenty of doctors will continue working.
As well as BMA doctors providing official cover during the strikes, these will include specialty and specialist (SAS) doctors, between the grade of junior and consultant, who make up just under 10% of the medical workforce.
What is more, about one out of every three doctors is not a BMA member.
How far apart are the two sides?
It is more than 100 days since the health secretary has sat down with BMA leaders for pay talks - and none are planned.
Mr Barclay said this year's pay rise was a "final and fair" settlement and it met the independent pay review body's recommendations.
Consultants are being given 6%, junior doctors an average of 8.8% depending on their level.
Mr Barclay also said he was looking at introducing minimum service levels in hospitals during strikes - defining the number of doctors, nurses, and other staff needed to cover urgent and emergency cover.
Currently life-and-limb cover has to be provided, but the extent of that is negotiated locally.
The pay increase mean junior doctors' basic salary ranges from £32,400 to £63,150, while consultants can earn up to £126,300.
And doctors earn about a quarter to a third more on top of this, on average, for things such as unsociable hours and additional work.
Junior doctors were after a 35% increase, to make up for what they say are years of below-inflation wage rises.
Consultants have not put a figure on what they would like but insist it must be above inflation, to start restoring pay they have lost once inflation is taken into account.
BMA leader Dr Philip Banfield said if the government cared about patients it would "reopen talks and come to the table with a credible offer".
Are you a doctor with a view on the strike or a patient affected? You can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.
Track outages and protect against spam, fraud, and abuse
Measure audience engagement and site statistics to understand how our services are used and enhance the quality of those services
If you choose to “Accept all,” we will also use cookies and data to
Develop and improve new services
Deliver and measure the effectiveness of ads
Show personalized content, depending on your settings
Show personalized ads, depending on your settings
If you choose to “Reject all,” we will not use cookies for these additional purposes.
Non-personalized content is influenced by things like the content you’re currently viewing, activity in your active Search session, and your location. Non-personalized ads are influenced by the content you’re currently viewing and your general location. Personalized content and ads can also include more relevant results, recommendations, and tailored ads based on past activity from this browser, like previous Google searches. We also use cookies and data to tailor the experience to be age-appropriate, if relevant.
Select “More options” to see additional information, including details about managing your privacy settings. You can also visit g.co/privacytools at any time.
Track outages and protect against spam, fraud, and abuse
Measure audience engagement and site statistics to understand how our services are used and enhance the quality of those services
If you choose to “Accept all,” we will also use cookies and data to
Develop and improve new services
Deliver and measure the effectiveness of ads
Show personalized content, depending on your settings
Show personalized ads, depending on your settings
If you choose to “Reject all,” we will not use cookies for these additional purposes.
Non-personalized content is influenced by things like the content you’re currently viewing, activity in your active Search session, and your location. Non-personalized ads are influenced by the content you’re currently viewing and your general location. Personalized content and ads can also include more relevant results, recommendations, and tailored ads based on past activity from this browser, like previous Google searches. We also use cookies and data to tailor the experience to be age-appropriate, if relevant.
Select “More options” to see additional information, including details about managing your privacy settings. You can also visit g.co/privacytools at any time.
Track outages and protect against spam, fraud, and abuse
Measure audience engagement and site statistics to understand how our services are used and enhance the quality of those services
If you choose to “Accept all,” we will also use cookies and data to
Develop and improve new services
Deliver and measure the effectiveness of ads
Show personalized content, depending on your settings
Show personalized ads, depending on your settings
If you choose to “Reject all,” we will not use cookies for these additional purposes.
Non-personalized content is influenced by things like the content you’re currently viewing, activity in your active Search session, and your location. Non-personalized ads are influenced by the content you’re currently viewing and your general location. Personalized content and ads can also include more relevant results, recommendations, and tailored ads based on past activity from this browser, like previous Google searches. We also use cookies and data to tailor the experience to be age-appropriate, if relevant.
Select “More options” to see additional information, including details about managing your privacy settings. You can also visit g.co/privacytools at any time.
