London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A Former Met police officer, who resigned last year after allegations of using sex workers and committing fraud while on duty, now faces an IOPC probe.
As reported by The Guardian, Imran Patel reportedly used sex workers while on duty, at a time when the force was under a major investigation into policing behavior and conduct.
The UK’s biggest police force has been labelled “institutionally misogynistic” following widespread reports that a deeply “toxic” culture of sexism has persisted for decades.
How ex-Met officer Imran Patel allegedly used sex workers amid misogyny probe?
Last year, Imran Patel stepped down as a police constable after several reports raised questions about his nine-month conduct at work.
He was also investigated for fraud, but prosecutors have informed him he will not face criminal charges.
Patel faces allegations of using sex workers and accessing adult websites on duty in May 2022. At the same time, former civil servant Louise Casey led a review into policing behaviour and culture.
The inquiry was commissioned by London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, following the life sentencing of Wayne Couzens for the kidnap, rape, and murder of marketing executive Sarah Everard.
Couzens, serving in the Met’s parliamentary and diplomatic protection command, abducted Sarah Everard, 33, in south London in March 2021, presenting his warrant card and pretending to detain her for breaching Covid regulations.
The case of Everard sparked a national debate over misogyny within Britain’s police forces.
Patel also allegedly to have committed fraud and misconduct in his position as an officer by taking a driving licence and money from a member of the public while serving in August 2021.
A stab vest was reportedly found in his residence in March 2022, with officials noting “without any lawful reason or reasonable excuse” for its possession.
After a referral by the Met’s anti-corruption unit, the IOPC has taken charge of the investigation into Patel.
The Met Police confirmed that Patel departed the force, yet he will face a full misconduct hearing in January.
The force posted on their website,
“Former PC Imran Patel will answer allegations that his conduct amounted to breaches of the Standards of Professional Behaviour, in respect of:
- Honesty and Integrity
- Discreditable Conduct
An IOPC spokesperson added,
“We did criminally investigate the officer over an allegation of theft but, in January 2024, decided not to refer the case to the Crown Prosecution Service.”
What did Louise Casey find about misogyny in the Met police?
Louise Casey, a crossbench peer, concluded in March 2023 that the Metropolitan Police was “institutionally misogynistic.”
She stated,
“Sarah Everard’s murder and other horrific crimes perpetrated by serving Met officers against women in London have shone a light on the shocking treatment of, and attitudes towards, women in the Met.”
Ms Casey added,
“Despite improvements in gender representation and increasingly flexible working practices, women are not treated equally in the workforce, with new women recruits resigning at four times the rate of all probationers; and a third of Met women we surveyed reported personally experiencing sexism at work, with 12% reporting directly experiencing sexual harassment or assault.”
She said,
“I absolutely recognise the commitment that Met officers make to protecting the people of our capital city every day. They put themselves at risk to keep us safe and always deserve our thanks and support.”
Ms Casey continued,
“But everyone within the Met also now needs to recognise that its failings go well beyond the actions of ‘bad apple’ officers. My report makes clear that, on top of the unimaginable crimes of individuals and the shocking series of events that have hit the service in recent years, the way in which the Met has responded to them is also a symptom of a wider malaise in an organisation that has fundamentally lost its way.”
What did investigations reveal about sexist behaviour at Charing Cross police station?
A previous inquiry by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) revealed that officers at London’s Charing Cross station circulated numerous messages joking about sexually assaulting colleagues and hiring sex workers.
An undercover investigation by BBC Panorama last month claimed that misogynistic attitudes persisted at the station. One sergeant was recorded sharing explicit sexual experiences with colleagues, despite objections from female staff.
The video captured him making highly offensive comments about a woman he met online, including describing her in a crude and derogatory manner.
How many cases of sexual harassment were reported in the UK in 2025?
Police forces received 404 complaints of sexual misconduct in 2024-25, the highest number on record for a single year, up from 199 in 2020-21.
According to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Nearly 51% of sexual misconduct complaints against police officers between 2020 and 2024 went uninvestigated,
The majority 70% of sexual conduct complaints in 2023-24, were for sexual assault, with dozens more alleging abuse of position for sexual purposes or inappropriate relationships.
