Met investigates racist graffiti found in staff area at police station

The Metropolitan police have launched a criminal investigation into one of their own police stations after racist graffiti was found daubed on a wall to which officers and staff have access.

- Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent

Graffiti containing the N-word is alleged to have been found written on a toilet wall at Charing Cross police station in central London. It was spotted and reported by an officer on 29 August, shortly after Notting Hill carnival. The area is not open to the public and is used by police officers and staff in a part of the building used as office space.

Charing Cross police station has been hit by repeated allegations of toxic behaviour. Last week, nine officers were suspended amid claims of excessive use of force, racism and misogyny. The Independent Office for Police Conduct, the police watchdog, is investigating those claims.

A Metropolitan police spokesperson said: “On Friday 29 August an officer reported seeing racist graffiti inside Charing Cross police station. Specifically, the graffiti was in a toilet area accessible to officers, staff and other people with access to that part of the building.