A shocking documentary, which secretly filmed the behaviour of the Metropolitan Police, has prompted the Met police to challenge “toxic behaviours” within the force. The BBC Panorama documentary titled ‘Undercover in the Police’ aired earlier this week, with reporter Rory Bibb going undercover as a detention officer for seven months at London’s Charing Cross police station.

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Bibb secretly recorded the activity of his fellow officers, some of whom displayed concerning behaviour, including the use of excessive force, and racist and misogynistic views. Footage of one officer, named PC Brian Sharkey, unveiled several unsettling conversations. When asked if he had received any complaints, Sharkey admitted he had received a few “moans” before saying: “You stop a toerag ‘cause you know he’s up to no good. You don’t find anything on him…” He continues in a mocking tone: “You’re just stopping me because I’m black”. In separate footage filmed off-duty in a pub, Sharkey then jokingly says: “If you go down for a sexual assault, you might as well go down for a rape”.

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Nine officers, a former officer and a detention officer are now being investigated for gross misconduct over allegations of discriminatory remarks, misogyny, excessive force, and failing to act against misconduct. The Met also confirmed that a sergeant from the Central West Command Unit was arrested after an “incident” on October 2. He has since been bailed and suspended. A spokesperson said: “The allegation relates to an incident that took place at Charing Cross Police Station on 2 October and is linked to matters disclosed in BBC Panorama.”

Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has apologised after the undercover documentary exposed officers who called for immigrants to be shot, mocked rape victims, and glorified violence. Sir Mark described the behaviour of Charing Cross Police staff shown in Panorama as “reprehensible and completely unacceptable.” He also said most of the accused serving officers are expected to be dismissed within weeks of the broadcast.

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Further unsettling footage showed Sgt Joe McIlvenny swearing at a detainee during a search, before punching him in the back of the leg. Mcllvenny, with nearly 20 years of service, is also seen dismissing a pregnant woman’s claims of rape and domestic abuse. Meanwhile, PC Phil Neilson was caught off duty discussing an immigrant who overstayed his visa. He said: “Either put a bullet through his head or deport him. And the ones that shag women, rape women, you do the cock and let them bleed out.”

While drinking, he also called Algerians and Somalians “scum,” spoke of an “invasion” of migrants, and said: “I think any foreign person is the worst to deal with. I’ve seen too many Islamics (sic) committing crimes. Their way of life is not the correct way of life. You do find that the ones that are causing the most crime are Muslim.”

PC Martin Borg was recorded boasting about a colleague stamping on a detainee’s leg and laughing at his screams. He also appeared to suggest he would write a false witness statement. Borg said: “Islam is a problem. A serious problem I think. Muslims hate us. They f***ing hate us. Proper hate us.”

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The Met Police Federation insisted that those accused deserve due process, not trial by media, politicians, or senior officers. Sir Mark said: “Officers behaving in such appalling, criminal ways, let down our communities and will cause some to question if their sons and daughters are safe in our cells, and whether they would be believed and respected as victims of crime. For that, I am truly sorry."

“In line with our uncompromising approach, within 48 hours of these allegations being received, nine officers and one staff member had been suspended, with two more officers removed from frontline duties. It’s my expectation that for those involved, where there is incontrovertible evidence of racism, misogyny, anti-Muslim sentiment or bragging about excessive use of force, they will be put on a fast-track hearing within weeks and on a path to likely dismissal.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan backed Sir Mark and said he was “disgusted and appalled” by the allegations. He said: “When I was informed of the appalling police behaviour that would be exposed by BBC Panorama, I knew it would be difficult to watch. But nothing can prepare you for seeing this kind of footage. It was sickening to watch police officers - those who are tasked with keeping our communities safe - display such blatant racism, misogyny, anti-Muslim hatred and excessive use of force. I know that I won’t be alone in feeling angry, disgusted and let down.”

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The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched its own investigation, with 11 current and former officers under scrutiny for possible gross misconduct. One constable faces a criminal probe for allegedly perverting the course of justice. The incidents are said to have taken place both on and off duty between August 2024 and January 2025. Some messages reportedly showed support for far-right activist Tommy Robinson and contained anti-Muslim rhetoric. The Charing Cross custody team has since been disbanded and reassigned. Sir Mark became commissioner three years ago, tasked with cleaning up the force during one of its most turbulent periods.

He pledged to remove corrupt officers after the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer and revelations about another serial rapist in the ranks. The Met recently said it was using “Al Capone” style tactics to target wrongdoers and dismantle cliques.

Sir Mark said: “Having cleared out huge volumes of unsuitable staff over recent years, we are now probing deeper into the corrupt networks and cliques our actions have driven underground. We are hardening our policies, such as bringing membership of secret societies into the light, and deploying AI and analytical intelligence technologies to spot early signs and troubling trends in our staff’s behaviour. The vast majority of our people join policing with a vocational sense of public duty. We’ll support even more staff to report wrongdoing and we will equip and develop our leaders to help them succeed in driving lasting cultural change. Those who can’t or won’t improve should expect to leave.”

The force is also considering requiring officers to declare Freemason membership. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “The disturbing scenes in this footage are sickening. We have given police chiefs the powers to automatically sack officers who fail background checks and dismiss those guilty of gross misconduct, and we expect them to be used.”