London’s Metropolitan police is facing a major Islamophobia scandal amid the pending release of a BBC documentary exposing officers who allegedly support the far-right hate preacher Tommy Robinson, have anti-Muslim beliefs, and used excessive force against suspects in custody.
The allegations centre on Charing Cross police station, one of the UK’s busiest stations, and will be aired in a BBC Panorama programme on Wednesday evening.
Nine officers have reportedly been suspended by Scotland Yard, amid an investigation, which could result in their sacking.
They are the subject of a gross misconduct investigation by the watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Two others, a former Met officer and a civilian staff worker, are also facing the same disciplinary charge which could lead to dismissal.
It is understood that the programme claims to have material showing an officer making pro-Tommy Robinson comments, using excessive force against suspects being held at the police station, including one youngster, as well as making hateful comments about Muslim and women.
The incidents are alleged to have happened on and off duty between August 2024 and January 2025.
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IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: “Having advised the individuals they are under investigation we will now be securing initial accounts from them. We are treating this matter extremely seriously and have a team of investigators carrying out enquiries.
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“Given the volume of CCTV footage and the number of individuals involved, it will take time to obtain and review all of the evidence, however we want to reassure the public that we are working hard to progress enquiries as quickly as possible.
Robinson, real name Steven Yaxley-Lennon, is the former leader of the English Defence League and Britain’s most notorious far-right Islamophobic activist.
He has organised far-right rallies in London which have been marred by hooliganism and violence against police. Robinson also has a long history of criminal convictions.
According to UK media reports, an undercover BBC reporter posing as civilian staff managed to record the material that led to the investigation.
The looming revelations were reportedly discussed on a conference call of police chiefs across England and Wales on Tuesday, and Metropolitan police commissioner Mark Rowley has cancelled some scheduled engagements on Thursday to deal with the expected fallout.
This new scandal will cast a dark shadow over the London Met which already faces allegations of institutional racism and mistrust among minorities.
Back in August 2024, a black Metropolitan Police officer has described being treated like “an animal” by some of his white colleagues, and accused the force of handing down “pathetic punishments” to those who have made racist comments.
He is one of 10 black and ethnic minority officers who told the BBC that racism is getting worse in Britain’s largest police force.
“They keep putting you down, putting you down until you break and you feel nothing, no confidence, nothing,” he said.
Assistant Commissioner Pippa Mills, who is the Met’s lead on trust and legitimacy, told the BBC she was “incredibly sorry to hear those accounts from those officers”, adding: “It’s really difficult to hear.”
