The Metropolitan Police is engaged in negotiations regarding a settlement for the family of murdered private detective Daniel Morgan. Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley stated on BBC Radio 4’s Today program that he could not disclose the exact amount as he was “legally bound” for the next few days. He also discussed efforts to transform the culture within the Met, which includes the removal of more officers.
In 1987, Daniel Morgan, 37, was found with an axe in his head in the car park of a pub in Sydenham, southeast London. Despite five inquiries and an inquest, no one has been convicted in connection with his killing. The investigations and proceedings have cost an estimated £40 million. The Met has previously acknowledged that corruption hindered the original murder investigation and issued an apology to the Morgan family. In 2021, an independent panel found that the Met had repeatedly covered up its failures.
Baroness O’Loan, the head of the independent panel, stated that the force’s primary objective in the case had been to protect itself. The Met has faced accusations of institutional corruption and has been working to address its shortcomings.
Sir Mark emphasised the Met’s commitment to raising standards and tackling internal issues. He highlighted that more officers are reporting allegations, resulting in increased investigations and the removal of officers from the organization. He acknowledged that the process will take time but expressed confidence in the progress being made. Sir Mark also mentioned that the number of officers being removed is projected to be significantly higher than in previous years, with hundreds of officers potentially requiring action.
Additionally, Sir Mark discussed the force’s use of the Cambridge Crime Harm Index to assess offenders involved in crimes against females. The index measures the seriousness of harm inflicted on victims rather than solely focusing on the number of recorded offences. The system identifies the 100 individuals who pose the highest risk to the public by analysing data on tens of thousands of recently convicted men involved in domestic assault, rape, sex offences, stalking, and harassment. The Met aims to proactively target repeat offenders based on this information.
