Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has condemned a High Court ruling that overturned Operation Assure, stating that it leaves policing in a “hopeless position” by preventing the force from dismissing officers who fail vetting checks.

High Court Blocks Met’s Attempt to Dismiss Officers Who Fail Vetting

The ruling comes after Sgt Lino Di Maria, a Met officer accused of rape and misconduct towards women, successfully challenged the force’s decision to remove his vetting and refer him to gross incompetence proceedings.

The judgment has halted Operation Assure, a policy that allowed the Met to remove officers deemed unfit for duty due to serious misconduct allegations. The ruling is expected to impact hundreds of other officers currently under review.

Commissioner Rowley Calls for Urgent Legal Reform

Reacting to the ruling, Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley issued a strong statement, calling on the Government to urgently introduce new laws that allow police chiefs to dismiss officers who fail vetting checks.

**”For more than two decades, police leaders have been asking Government for greater powers to sack officers who are not fit to wear the uniform. For two and a half years, I have repeated that call, and successive Governments have promised change.

“Being able to sack officers who fail vetting is critical. Under Operation Assure, in the last 18 months:

• 96 officers have been sacked or resigned due to vetting removal.
• 29 more are on special vetting leave, having lost vetting.
• Over 100 more are in the early stages of vetting reviews.

Those we have removed vetting from had a pattern of behaviour that meant if they applied to work in policing today, we’d never let them in.

“But today’s ruling on the law has left policing in a hopeless position.

We now have no mechanism to rid the Met of officers who cannot be trusted to work with women or enter the homes of vulnerable people. It is absurd that we cannot lawfully sack them – this would not be the case in other sectors where staff have nothing comparable to the powers a police officer holds.”**

Operation Assure – The Met’s Attempt to Clean Up Policing

Launched in March 2023, Operation Assure was an unprecedented initiative that sought to remove officers whose vetting clearance could not be maintained due to serious allegations.

The policy was introduced in response to major scandals, including:

• PC Wayne Couzens, who kidnapped, raped, and murdered Sarah Everard.
• PC David Carrick, a serial rapist who carried out crimes while serving in the Met.

The Met used Operation Assure to dismiss officers with patterns of misconduct, including allegations of sexual abuse, harassment, and domestic violence.

Since its launch:

• 107 officers and staff have had their vetting withdrawn.
• 96 officers resigned or were dismissed.
• 24 officers were dismissed following incompetence hearings.
• Approximately 100 officers are currently under review.

However, the High Court ruling has now frozen this process, leaving officers like Sgt Di Maria in legal limbo.

Government Promised Reform, But No Action Taken

Rowley’s statement highlighted that for over two decades, police leaders have demanded new regulations to allow vetting-based dismissals, but no legal changes have been made.

The ruling means that even officers with serious allegations against them can stay in the Met, as long as they have not been convicted of a crime.

Police Federation Backs Sgt Di Maria’s Legal Challenge

The Met Police Federation, which represents officers, supported Sgt Di Maria’s legal action, arguing that removing vetting clearance without due process was unlawful.

However, critics say the ruling prioritizes officers’ rights over public safety, with Rowley stating:

**”This judgment is focused on the human rights of Sgt Di Maria. But there are wider human rights at play here – those of the public, and those of colleagues who have to work alongside officers like this.

“The judge identified a clear gap in the law. We tried to fill that gap, but we now need the Government to act with extreme urgency.”**

What Happens Next?

The Met Police has confirmed it will seek leave to appeal the ruling. Until then, officers who fail vetting checks will be placed on “special vetting leave”—meaning they will continue to be paid by taxpayers but will not work.

“This is a ridiculous waste of public money but the least bad option until regulations are fixed,” Rowley added.

The ruling is expected to spark political debate over policing standards and accountability, as critics fear it could undermine public trust in the Met’s efforts to reform its ranks.

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