Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has insisted he will not resign following a BBC Panorama investigation that exposed evidence of racism and misogyny within the force. Speaking to BBC Radio London, Rowley dismissed rumours of his departure as being fueled by those who opposed his efforts to root out misconduct, saying: “The misogynists and racists, frankly, want me out.” He admitted there were still deep systemic issues to address but rejected the label of the Met being institutionally racist or misogynistic.
The Panorama programme featured undercover footage of serving officers making racist remarks, belittling rape allegations, and boasting about the use of force. Rowley called the behaviour “vile to watch” and described those involved as “ghastly individuals.” He acknowledged the distress the revelations would cause the public but argued the force had made significant progress since the Casey Review, which was commissioned after the 2021 murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer. He noted that nearly 1,500 individuals had been removed from the force in recent years as part of what he described as the most extensive counter-corruption effort in British policing history.
While Rowley has offered apologies, he emphasised that “everything the Met does” is his personal responsibility and that he remains committed to seeing reforms through. Political leaders have reacted cautiously, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer calling the footage “shocking” but supporting a robust response from the commissioner. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said Rowley had his “full confidence” but criticised the force for relying on journalists to expose misconduct.
Former senior officers and policing experts questioned whether meaningful change could occur without accepting the force’s institutional problems. Rowley, however, stressed that the vast majority of his officers were dedicated professionals and that public trust could be rebuilt by continuing to remove those unfit to serve.
