Statement from the Metropolitan Police Federation, following comments by Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley on LBC this morning (24 January).
The Commissioner described the Federation as "crazy" for undertaking a Judicial Review on the issue of vetting-based dismissal. That Judicial Review took place on 15-16 January and the outcome is awaited.
Matt Cane, General Secretary of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: "The Metropolitan Police Federation were frankly astonished to hear the absurd comments of Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley on LBC radio this morning.
"Surely the country's most senior police officer should recognise the law and operate within it. And not be labelling as "crazy" an organisation that wants its police service to operate within our country's laws - rather than breaking them.
"The Judicial Review we are undertaking into vetting based dismissal seeks to ensure that the Metropolitan Police Service operates within the law when it comes to its treatment of police officers.
"The Metropolitan Police Federation has made it abundantly clear that where an individual is dismissed, unlawfully, this will not go unchallenged.
"We emphasise again that the good, brave and hard-working colleagues we represent are the first to say that the very, very small minority of officers who are not fit to wear the uniform should not be in the police service.
"But police officers - like all people - need to be treated within the law of the land and they have the right to representation and a fair process.
"We await the outcome of the Judicial Review. Its result will determine how vetting-based dismissal is used and will undoubtedly influence any future vetting revocation within Police Regulations."
