Met has 'culture of poor management' - coroner

A coroner has accused the Metropolitan Police of having a "culture of poor management and institutional defensiveness" following an inquest into an officer's death.

Nicola Forster, a safety training officer at Hendon Police College in north London, was found dead at her home in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, in September 2022.

She had developed post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 2017 after the Grenfell tower fire and an inquest concluded that line management decisions had contributed to "a further significant deterioration" in her mental health.

A prevention of future death report (PFDR), published by Bedfordshire coroner Emma Whitting, has accused the Met of failing to make sufficient changes to its employment policy since Ms Forster's death.

The inquest heard the 45-year-old had suffered with anxiety and depression, and could have been referred to occupational health for support and counselling at an earlier stage.

Ms Whitting said in her report: "Although I was informed during the inquest process about various changes that have been made to MPS Employment Policy and Processes since Nikki's death, including the introduction of a new 'Raising Concerns' Policy in May 2023, I believe there remains evidence of a culture of poor management and institutional defensiveness... which these changes do not address.

"There is no point in encouraging concerns to be raised whilst this culture persists."

Ms Whitting also said her investigation had found officers had "a fear of speaking out" about their management.

The Police Support Unit and, following Ms Forster's death, the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) investigation "appeared only to seek to support the role of senior management", she added.

The coroner concluded that she agreed with the Baroness Casey Review findings from 2023 that the force "starts from a position that nothing wrong has occurred" and their "systems support wrongdoers".

Giving a narrative conclusion, the coroner added that the worsening of Ms Forster's mental health was "exacerbated" by the actions of her employer.

The Met has been given until 15 August to respond to the PFDR, detailing action taken or proposed to be taken, and setting out the timetable for action.

The force has been contacted for comment.

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