Final Report of the Morris Inquiry: The Case for Change

BUILDING CAPACITY
“One issue is that up until fairly recently I do not think that as an organisation we have
recognised the degree of significant pressure that members of some communities come under
from their family and friends when they take a decision to join the Police Service. We take
them into the residential environment at Hendon, or any other training school, and – all the
pressure about initial training is about conforming, is it not? It is about bringing people to a
common point, if you like. And we have not recognised the particular pressures that some of
our officers have been under, and we have not therefore supported them; we have not been
sensitive to those particular issues. And it is no wonder that they find – you know, if they are
under pressure from outside for joining the police and then they join the service and they feel
under pressure from a predominant culture which does not appear to welcome their
presence inside the service, then it is no wonder that they walk away.”
(Evidence of Commander Stephen Allen.)
9.21 When pressed further on the problem, Commander Allen went on to say
“I will try and be careful, sir, that I think of specific examples before I answer your question.
Certainly racism and certainly bullying.”
9.22 When the MPS’ Director of Training and Development, Commander Shabir
Hussain, gave evidence to us he did not recognise this description of behaviour at
Hendon and said “give me the evidence, give me any information, it doesn’t have to be the
evidential standard, and we will deal with it.”
9.23 In his recent Thematic Review, AC Ghaffur found under-representation and
aspects of disproportionality at Hendon, but he found no evidence of the kind of
culture portrayed in the BBC documentary, The Secret Policeman.
9.24 Whilst we received evidence of racist or racially insensitive behaviour at
Hendon, the incidents occurred some years ago. However, as we were finalising
this report, we became aware of two pieces of information.
9.25 Firstly, a probationer was recently required to resign following a disciplinary
hearing into an allegation that he had used racist language to a fellow recruit at
Hendon. Secondly, two male recruits from Hendon are currently on suspension as a
result of allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour against three female recruits.
These officers have been suspended since October 2003. The Inquiry began
gathering evidence in January 2004.
9.26 Whilst, therefore, the evidence we received during the Inquiry was insufficient
to suggest an inappropriate culture at Hendon,
we recommend that the MPS takes active steps to remain vigilant and to
monitor the culture at Hendon, and to ensure that all staff and recruits are
aware of what constitutes inappropriate behaviour (such as that which is
bullying and / or discriminatory) and that any incidents which do occur are
treated with the seriousness they deserve.
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