Met Police review: Rape victims made to feel like an ‘inconvenience’ by overworked officers

A damning review into the Met Police found that rape and domestic violence victims were made to feel like an ‘inconvenience’ and ‘gaslighted’ by overworked and inexperienced officers.

One officer said: ‘If you look at our performance around rape, serious sexual offences, the detection rate is so low you may as well say it’s legal in London. 

‘It’s kind of reflective of how we treat and view our female colleagues. You get victim-blaming, looking at a situation and not believing them.’

Rape victims described being told they ‘should and could have done more’ to protect themselves by sarcastic, rude and dismissive investigators.

Many officers are desperate to close cases with NFA – ‘no further action’. One admitted: ‘The incentive is get it NFA’d because we have to do so much work to get it up and then the Crown Prosecution Service will NFA anyway.’

A damning review into the Met Police found victims were made to feel like an ‘inconvenience’ by overworked and inexperienced Met Police officers. Pictured: Sarah Everard who was raped and murdered by serving officer Wayne Couzens in 2021

A community officer added: ‘The best outcome is closing a report to reduce your workload.’

Domestic abuse crimes have doubled in London since 2012 and reported rapes have also gone up 244 per cent over this period, leaving officers swamped with work and dealing with 65 rape cases at a time.

Researchers found a woman raped and left in a coma was likely to be dealt with by a trainee detective. 

Officers said victims could wait months to hear about their case and some were left suicidal. 

One said: ‘You don’t want to be a victim of rape in London. Anyone who relies on policing in London for anything I’m scared for.’

Baroness Casey said promises to tackle violence against women and girls ‘ring hollow’.

Baroness Casey (pictured) said promises to tackle violence against women and girls ‘ring hollow’ in her damning review