Given calls from many in the LGBTQ+ community, once the IOPC has completed its re-investigation of the Met’s initial response to the murders of Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor by Stephen Port, will you finally commit to giving your full backing to a public inquiry into the murders and their handling?

I am pleased that the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has decided to reopen their investigation into the conduct of Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers who investigated the tragic deaths of Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor.

It is important that the IOPC conduct a thorough and speedy investigation given the passage of time since the tragic murders of these four young men.

My Deputy Mayor has written to the IOPC to seek assurance that the new investigation will fully consider the possibility of assumptions, stereotyping, unconscious bias, and homophobia by individual officers, regarding the lifestyle of young gay men and the impact this had on the way the MPS investigation was conducted.

In order to ensure that lessons have been learnt and changes have been made to the way deaths are investigated, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Service (HMICFRS) are currently conducting an inspection within the MPS, which will report towards the end of the year.

Furthermore, Baroness Casey is currently conducting an independent review into MPS culture.