By KRISTINA WEMYSS, GENERAL NEWS REPORTER

Published: 22:10 GMT, 11 January 2026 | Updated: 22:26 GMT, 11 January 2026

The Metropolitan Police still has two sex offenders within its ranks – and more than 300 serving officers have criminal records, it can be revealed.

It comes despite Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley's pledge to crack down on 'bad apples' – which has seen 1,500 rogue officers kicked out over the past three years.

Details emerged after the force announced on Thursday, that 131 officers had committed crimes and misconduct after being allowed to join the force due to vetting and employment check blunders. 

Between 2018 and 2022, 17,355 officers and staff joined without the Met obtaining full employment references and more than 5,000 officers were not properly vetted.

Now separate figures, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, show that 322 officers had criminal records at the end of last year.

That is a rise of a third since November 2024, when 243 officers had cautions or convictions. 

The Daily Mail can reveal two of those officers committed 'non-contact' sexual offences in the mid-2000s, a lower category of offending including voyeurism, exposure, up-skirting, drink spiking and stalking. One officer was convicted before joining the force and the other was already in the job when found guilty.

The Met has acknowledged that 'neither officer would be offered a job or gain vetting clearance today', raising questions about why they are still in the job.

Official data shows there are 54 officers with a record of violence, 25 for drugs-related offences and 80 have committed theft or fraud.

Between 2018 and 2022, 17,355 officers and staff joined without the Met obtaining full employment references and more than 5,000 officers were not properly vetted (file photo)

Pc Cliff Mitchell was recruited despite having been accused of raping a child at the time of his application. He was later convicted on multiple counts of rape, including six against a child, and he was sentenced to 13 years behind bars

There are also 50 officers who have committed drink driving, 37 have a record for public order offences and 60 for criminal damage. Those with a criminal past span all ranks. At the lowest level, 268 constables have a record.

There are 43 sergeants, seven inspectors and two chief inspectors who have been cautioned or convicted. Two officers at the rank of superintendent or above have a criminal record.

On Thursday, the Met acknowledged that an estimated 1,200 officers and staff should not have joined the force due to employment record check and vetting failures and would not pass more stringent checks today.