The Professionalism and Trust Committee (Police) is scheduled to convene on Tuesday, 5 May 2026, to review several key reports concerning the City of London Police's operations and internal standards. The meeting's agenda includes updates on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) initiatives, annual comparisons of stop and search and use of force data, and a review of professional standards, conduct, and vetting. Additionally, the committee will receive an annual review of police complaints activity.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) Update

A significant portion of the meeting is dedicated to an update on the City of London Police's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) strategy. The report, authored by the Commissioner, will provide information on the progress made against the EDI Performance Framework. This framework assesses performance across four pillars: Our People, Our Policies, Our Public, and Our Partners. The report highlights that while workforce representation in terms of gender and ethnicity remains stable, it is still significantly below the wider London representation. The document also notes that the recruitment stage, including vetting, is identified as a point where diverse applicants are being lost.

Regarding policies, the report indicates that there is still work to be done to ensure equality impact assessments (EIAs) are routinely considered in the development of policies and procedures. The Our Public pillar of the EDI strategy focuses on the use of stop and search powers, noting a continued decline in their overall use across the City over the past 12 months, with a positive recent reduction in disproportionality for stops of Black people and those in the 'other' ethnic category. However, the volume of strip searches remains low, with all recorded instances being on individuals who were not white. The report also details the progress of the Inclusivity Programme, noting an increase in compliance rates among staff and officers.

End of Year Stop & Search and Use of Force 2024/2025 - 2025/2026 Annual Comparisons

The committee will receive a report comparing the force's use of stop and search powers and the use of force between the financial years 2024/2025 and 2025/2026. The report indicates a year-on-year reduction in the volume of both tactics. Specifically, stop and search volumes decreased by 28.3%, and the number of use of force forms submitted fell by 14.0%. This reduction is attributed, in part, to the implementation of enhanced training initiatives, such as Enhanced Encounter training, which aims to improve officers' communication, tactical restraint, and de-escalation skills.

The report highlights a significant decrease in searches of juveniles and strip searches, alongside a substantial fall in subject injuries. While effectiveness indicators, such as the item found rate, remained broadly stable, the positive outcome rate where items were found improved. However, disproportionality remains a key strategic risk. For stop and search, Black disproportionality has marginally improved but remains elevated, while Asian and 'Other' disproportionality indices have risen. For use of force, the report presents ethnicity proportions rather than formal disproportionality indices, showing modest changes in the ethnicity mix of incidents.

Professional Standards, Conduct, and Vetting Update Q4

This report provides an update on professional standards, conduct, and vetting for the fourth quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year. It notes an increase in the volume of complaints in Q4 compared to Q3, although overall complaint levels remain below the national average. The report also indicates a decrease in new conduct investigations recorded this quarter. Several officers remain subject to long-term suspension, with some cases awaiting the results of impending criminal investigations or trials. The report forecasts approximately four gross misconduct hearings over the next six months.

The update also covers vetting, stating that the force is fully compliant with Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) requirements and that all officers hold the appropriate level of in-date vetting. Preparations are ongoing for a forthcoming integrity inspection by HMICFRS, with most national recommendations having been completed. The report details progress against a readiness assessment for this inspection, noting that 83% of actions were completed by the end of March 2026. An appeal panel procedure has been introduced for staff members facing vetting withdrawals to ensure transparency and fairness.

Annual Review of Police Complaints Activity - 2024/25

The committee will review the annual report on police complaints activity for the 2024/25 financial year. This report summarises complaints and allegations relating to the City of London Police and the national fraud reporting service (formerly Action Fraud, now Report Fraud). The report indicates that for 2024/25, a total of 570 complaints were recorded, comprising 229 relating to the City of London Police and 341 to Action Fraud. This represents a year-on-year increase of 5% in total complaints.

The report details the arrangements for holding the City of London Police Commissioner to account regarding complaints and reviews, and assesses the performance of the Police Authority in its complaint-handling responsibilities. It highlights that the most frequent complaints related to policies and procedures, individual behaviours, and the handling of or damage to property/premises. The report also notes that complaint review panels convened by the Professionalism and Trust Committee met three times during 2024/25, considering three cases, with an average determination time of 170 days. The themes emerging from these reviews included concerns about service delivery and case handling, the impact of police decisions on individuals, and the desire for reassurance regarding organisational learning and accountability.