Eleventh Met officer dismissed after Charing Cross misconduct findings

A Metropolitan Police officer at Charing Cross police station has been dismissed for misconduct after a hearing found he breached professional standards. PC Richard Marus was recorded making comments about using force on the public and dismissing phone crime reports in unaired footage from a BBC Panorama investigation.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) received the footage, which was not broadcast as part of the *Undercover in the Police* programme. The hearing, held on Tuesday, ruled that Marus had violated standards on authority, respect, and discreditable conduct.

Footage revealed inappropriate remarks

The misconduct panel found that Marus had expressed enthusiasm for using force on members of the public. He also made dismissive remarks about people reporting phone thefts and was recorded boasting about driving a police vehicle inappropriately, as reported by the BBC.

Marus’s case is the latest in a series of dismissals linked to the Panorama investigation. The programme, aired in October, exposed officers making racist and misogynistic comments, trivialising rape claims, and expressing approval of excessive force. Two other officers, PCs Kheava Gould-Ryan and Fernando Santos Dos Santos, were previously dismissed after unaired footage revealed their conduct.

Met responds to cultural concerns

Commander Simon Messinger of the Metropolitan Police said the force continued to support the IOPC’s ongoing investigation. He stated, as reported by the BBC, that the speed of the dismissals demonstrated the Met’s commitment to addressing cultural issues and raising standards.

The Met confirmed that Marus would be added to the College of Policing’s barred list. This prevents him from rejoining the police or working for related bodies. The force has now dismissed eleven officers in connection with the investigation, including Sgt Lawrence Hume, who was sacked in November 2025 for stating a detainee deserved to be beaten up.

What happens next

The IOPC’s investigation into Charing Cross police station remains ongoing. The Met has not confirmed whether further disciplinary action will be taken against other officers. Residents can report concerns about police conduct to the IOPC or through the Met’s complaints procedure.