MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Anticorruption hotline in Britain to control wrongdoings by the Metropolitan Police

The hotline Crimestoppers was launched following a series of scandals, which resulted in 728 Met Police-led investigations.

With the help of the service Crimestoppers the British government has launched a nationwide anti-corruption hotline to report corruption in the Metropolitan Police and help Londoners recover the trust in the force. First launched in November 2022, the hotline it has received some 3,000 online reports and calls.

BBC has reported that the chairman of the National Police Chiefs' Council said it would enable them to “take action”.

Chief Constable Gavin Stephens said: “We must take tough action to purge policing of those responsible for wrongdoing, for now and for the future.”

The hotline was launched following a series of scandals including strip-searching children, the murder of Sarah Everard, and the sharing of pictures of Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman after they were killed. It has resulted in 728 Met Police-led investigations.

Det Ch Sup Andy Day, from the Met's Anti-Corruption and Abuse Command, said: “Its success has been a very positive step for our communities in London and we are pleased that all the other forces have decided to adopt it and we will see a national roll out.”

“It's vital that the public know there are clear systems in place where appalling behaviors will be challenged and addressed robustly and that those within policing know they can trust their colleagues.”

Donna Jones, chairwoman of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said: “This service provides an opportunity for the public to report their concerns about individuals, and for policing to root out more of those not fit to serve and who impugn the characters of the overwhelming majority of officers committed to protecting us.”