Met Police ‘not free of racism or bias,’ commissioner admits as London mayor launches review of stop and search

Get Nadine White's Race Report newsletter for a fresh perspective on the week's news Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Cressida Dick, has acknowledged the force “is not free of discrimination, racism or bias” as London mayor Sadiq Khan announced plans for an urgent review of stop and search tactics disproportionately used on black people. Recommended Black inspector sues Met police after being stopped by white officers “Actions are more important than words and, as I have said before, we can do more and we will.” She added: “The Met is not free of discrimination, racism or bias. My job is to continue to try to eliminate any such racism and discrimination, however it appears.” Her statement came shortly after Mr Khan announced plans for" community scrutiny" of police tactics including stop and search, use of force and Tasers as part of action to “improve black Londoners’ trust and confidence in our police service" The mayor said he and the Metropolitan Police had also launched a 12-month pilot scheme to look at samples of traffic stops to identify disproportionality relating to ethnicity. “It is essential that we listen and respond to the frustrations voiced by black communities about the racial and social injustice they see when they interact with our public institutions.” He stressed that while the Met had made “significant and positive steps forward” since the widely disputed 1999 Macpherson Inquiry into the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence, and the subsequent failings in the police investigation, there was more work to be done.