A former Metropolitan (MET) Police officer, Imran Patel, is facing a misconduct hearing after being accused of using sex workers and viewing adult websites while on duty, amid ongoing scrutiny of behaviour within the force.
Patel, who resigned from the MET in July 2024, is alleged to have engaged in the misconduct in May 2022 during the same period an independent review into the MET’s culture and conduct was underway.
The review, led by former civil servant Dame Louise Casey and commissioned by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, followed the kidnap, rape, and murder of Sarah Everard by serving officer Wayne Couzens.
The Casey report, released in March 2023, described the MET as institutionally misogynistic, exposing deep-rooted sexism and systemic failures that allowed abusive behaviour to persist. It found that a third of women officers had experienced sexism at work, and one in eight reported sexual harassment or assault.
The allegations against Patel add to concerns about a toxic culture within the force. He is also accused of fraud and abusing his authority by taking a driving licence and cash from a member of the public in August 2021.
A stab vest was later found in his home without authorisation in March 2022.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is leading the investigation, confirmed it had examined the allegations of theft but chose not to refer the case to the Crown Prosecution Service.
Despite his resignation, Patel will face a full misconduct hearing in January.
