Hundreds of Corrupt Cops Still Policing England and Wales, Warns Watchdog
A police watchdog has revealed a shocking truth: hundreds, possibly thousands, of corrupt officers are currently serving in police forces across England and Wales.
Flawed Vetting Allowed Monsters Like Wayne Couzens In
Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr blasted the police recruitment system for being “too easy” to slip through, especially for those with criminal ties. He said if proper screening had been in place earlier, the chances of Wayne Couzens – Sarah Everard’s murderer – becoming a cop “would obviously have been decreased.”
HMICFRS (His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services) probed eight forces and examined hundreds of vetting files. The findings uncovered too many recruits with criminal records or links to organised crime who should never have worn the badge.
Culture of Misogyny and Misconduct Prevalent in Forces
The inspection, launched after Ms Everard’s murder in October last year, found a “depressing” culture of sexism, misogyny, and predatory behaviour is still “prevalent” across many police forces, hitting female officers, staff, and the public alike.
Matt Parr warned this toxic environment was evident in every force inspected — including The Metropolitan Police, Kent Police, Civil Nuclear Constabulary, Cumbria, South Wales, Nottinghamshire, Dorset, and Devon & Cornwall.
Chiefs ‘Complacent’ Over Police Vetting – Trust at Breaking Point
Parr accused police chiefs of ignoring “the damage to their reputation and the danger to the public” caused by weak vetting. He slammed the rush to recruit 20,000 new officers by March 2023 as “no excuse” for lowering standards.
“It’s far too easy for the wrong people to join and stay in the police,” said Parr. “The shoddier your vetting system is, the more likely it is someone like Couzens will get through.”
The watchdog investigated 11,277 staff and officers, reviewed 725 vetting files, 264 misconduct cases, and conducted 42 interviews.
- Criminal behaviour, like indecent exposure, often brushed off as a “one-off”.
- Applicants linked to organised crime were still hired.
- A chief constable defended recruiting a transfer with multiple sexual misconduct allegations as a way to “make the force more diverse.”
Parr warned failures in vetting aren’t “just bad for policing – it’s storing up serious problems for later.”
He stressed that only tougher recruitment checks and a zero-tolerance approach to misconduct will help rebuild shattered public trust and better protect the public — especially women.
