The Metropolitan Police are taking significant steps to rebuild trust with London's black community, which has felt neglected over the years.

Recent tensions surrounding stop-and-search practices have been underscored by incidents involving black athletes Bianca Williams and Ricardo Dos Santos.

The erosion of trust was further exacerbated by the controversial 2020 strip-search of a 15-year-old black girl, known as Child Q, while she was menstruating at her school.

In response, a new stop-and-search charter has been developed with input from black communities to reform the procedure.

Additionally, the police are overhauling their policy on intimate searches of minors to ensure they are only conducted when necessary and proportionate.

The Metropolitan Police's Race Action Plan aims to make the organization truly anti-racist and inclusive, with progress updates to be provided biannually.

To further enhance representation, the Met is actively recruiting a more diverse workforce and providing training for new recruits to better understand the experiences of black Londoners.

Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley acknowledged the long journey ahead but views the Race Action Plan as a positive step forward.

Rowley emphasized that real change is necessary to rebuild trust, highlighting the importance of action over mere words.

He reiterated the need for actionable change to improve relationships with black Londoners and the broader community.

In a related development, two police constables were dismissed for gross misconduct in October 2023 following a distressing stop-and-search incident involving the athletes.

Efforts are also underway to address disparities in the misconduct system, with initiatives increasing the promotion pass rate for black officers from 68% to 75% since 2021.