Met Police completes eight misconduct hearings after BBC Panorama scandal with seven officers sacked

The Metropolitan Police has concluded a series of disciplinary hearings triggered by shocking footage broadcast on BBC Panorama last October, resulting in seven serving officers being dismissed from the force for their conduct at Charing Cross police station.
The final hearing on Friday concluded with a finding of gross misconduct against former PC Brian Sharkey, who had already retired before proceedings began. While the panel determined he breached professional standards through comments displaying a lack of empathy toward sexual assault and rape victims, along with discriminatory remarks about members of the public, the chair declined to impose a retrospective dismissal – the only sanction available for ex-officers.
Sharkey violated standards relating to authority, respect and courtesy, discreditable conduct, and equality and diversity during his time attached to the Central West Command Unit.
The eight accelerated hearings form part of a sweeping response to appalling behaviour exposed in the documentary, which captured officers making offensive and inappropriate comments while working at the west London station.
An additional former officer who had transferred to Gloucestershire Constabulary by the time of his hearing was also found to have warranted dismissal. That individual, who worked for the Met when Panorama filmed and made comments supporting inappropriate force against detainees, had resigned in November 2025 before the March hearing could take place.
Commander Simon Messinger, responsible for professionalism at the Met, acknowledged the serious damage caused by the officers’ actions. He confirmed all dismissed individuals except Sharkey would be added to the College of Policing’s Barred List, preventing them from rejoining police services or working for related organisations.
The dismissals represent a fraction of a broader effort to eliminate misconduct, with more than 1,400 officers and staff departing the Metropolitan Police over the past three years as standards enforcement intensified.
Following the documentary’s broadcast, the force disbanded the entire custody team at Charing Cross and implemented leadership changes at the station. Training programmes and regular staff rotation systems have been introduced as longer-term cultural reforms.
However, the Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation has expanded beyond the original cases after reviewing unbroadcast BBC footage. The watchdog has identified additional matters requiring assessment and potential referral.
A constable from Central West Command Unit is scheduled for a misconduct hearing on 1 April over alleged inappropriate comments about using force against a detainee and remains suspended.
Two officers face criminal investigation – one previously dismissed PC featured in the documentary, and a sergeant arrested in October on suspicion of perverting the course of justice in connection with an incident at Charing Cross linked to matters revealed by Panorama. The sergeant remains suspended and on bail.
Four additional officers are under gross misconduct investigation, all suspended from duty. These include two constables being examined for inappropriate comments about force, one of whom also made remarks about a female member of the public.
A sergeant is being investigated following an IOPC witness appeal for allegedly making inappropriate and sexualised comments about women while failing to challenge similar behaviour from junior colleagues.
Another sergeant featured in the documentary was originally scheduled for an accelerated hearing but remains under investigation as further enquiries continue.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​