Police officers investigated for violence towards women, racism and misogyny at London station

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Police officers accused of misconduct including taking steroids, violence towards women and perverting the course of justice are being investigated.

At least 10 officers, who mainly worked in the same Westminster unit, are subject to a probe by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The watchdog said its investigation started last year over allegations an officer “had sex with a vulnerable female member of the public in a room” at Charing Cross police station in February 2016.

“The scope of that investigation has now widened considerably,” a spokesperson added. “Currently the allegations relate to 10 officers – eight PCs and two sergeants.”

The IOPC said the officers were “predominately from a unit known as the ‘Impact team’, which has since been disbanded, and a small number of other police officers primarily based at Charing Cross police station or West End Central”.

As part of an internal Metropolitan Police probe, messages were seized that led the IOPC to investigate a number of allegations that do not each apply to all 10 officers.

The accusations include violence towards women and taking advantage of vulnerable people, and “racist, misogynistic and other discriminatory language and behaviour” between 2015 and 2017.

The IOPC said there were also allegations of the “use of controlled substances including steroids and the potential behavioural impact of taking these substances”.

Some officers are accused of bullying and inappropriate behaviour towards their colleagues, including sending threatening and malicious messages.

They are also accused of perverting the course of justice by deleting messages relevant to a criminal investigation and failing to report wrongdoing.

The IOPC said it has reviewed a large volume of material, analysed phone data, and interviewed the officers and witnesses both inside and outside the Metropolitan Police.

Investigators are in the process of analysing electronic devices seized in connection with the perverting the course of justice allegation and the officers were drug tested over steroid claims.

Sal Naseem, the IOPC’s regional director, said: “These are very serious allegations and it is vital for public confidence that these are independently investigated.

“We are committed to using our enforcement powers to root out officers whose conduct undermines the public’s confidence in policing and who should not be wearing the uniform. There is no indication this is part of any wider teams within the station but our overarching report will consider the wider culture and team.”

Four police officers – three PCs and a sergeant – are on restricted duties and another PC has been suspended as the investigation continues. A former PC, who no longer works for the Metropolitan Police, is also under investigation.

Scotland Yard said it took the allegations extremely seriously and was fully cooperating with the IOPC investigation.

The force said the unit involved had been disbanded and it had issued guidance to all staff over “maintaining professional standards” on social media.

“Officers and staff also have a duty to report, challenge and take action against colleagues where they believe those standards have fallen,” a spokesperson added.