In March 2023, Baroness Casey published the final report of her review of the Metropolitan Police Service’s professional standards and culture. Baroness Casey found “widespread bullying, discrimination, institutional homophobia, misogyny and racism, and other unacceptable behaviours which are a far cry from the high ethical standards the public rightly expects of its police officers” [page 20, Baroness Casey’s final report, published March 2023].
In December 2025, the Mayor for London and Metropolitan Police Service Commissioner (MPS) appointed Dr Gillian Fairfield to Chair this independent progress review of the Met’s progress in acting on the Casey Review recommendations. This fulfils one of the Casey Review’s recommendations that “The Met and the Mayor of London should commission independent progress reviews after two years, and again after five years, so that Londoners can have trust and confidence that reform is taking place”.
Dr Fairfield is supported by a Lead Reviewer and Review team who are independent of both the Metropolitan Police Service and the Mayor’s Office for Policing (MOPAC). The team brings a breadth of experience covering the range of issues identified by the Casey Review
The Review will make a considered assessment which identifies positive progress, as well as identifying areas which require additional focus or acceleration, and making recommendations for action in such areas. As part of this, it will consider any recent incidents and reviews that speak to public trust and confidence that have emerged since the Casey review was published. This Review comes as the MPS prepares to launch its A New Met for London Phase 2 plan which builds on the progress made fixing the foundations of the MPS and ensuring improvements are sustained for the long-term.
Our approach is designed to deliver the requirements of the Terms of Reference across multiple pillars, operating in parallel. These are:
We will ensure all those who wish to do so can contribute to the Review confidentially. We opened our formal Call for Evidence on 5 March 2026. We welcome submissions from:
The Review’s approach is underpinned by a robust Ethical and Safeguarding Framework, data security protocols (including Data Protection Impact Assessment) and privacy protections.
If you would like more information on how we protect your data, please read our full privacy notices for online public survey, Citizens’ Engagement Forums, and written submissions.
Dr Fairfield was appointed as Chair of the Disclosure and Barring Service in 2018, and reappointed for a second term of office in 2022. She is also a member of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body, having been appointed in 2023 and was reappointed in July 2025 for a further three years.
In March 2023 Dr Fairfield was appointed by the Home Secretary to lead an independent review of the Independent Office for Police Conduct’s effectiveness, governance, accountability, transparency and efficiency. The Review’s final report was published in March 2024. During the course of the Review, Dr Fairfield and her team engaged widely with those with experience of crime and policing across England and met with: groups representing the perspectives of complainants and victims; national policing bodies and groups representing police officers and staff; a cross-section of police forces; key statutory IOPC partners; partners in Wales and the IOPC’s equivalents in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Review found significant issues that needed to be addressed by the IOPC and the Home Office to: put the organisation on a sustainable footing; ensure it effectively delivers its remit; speed up its investigation processes; improve transparency; and, ultimately, improve public confidence in policing.
Dr Fairfield was appointed as a member of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) Board from October 2024 to October 2025.
In 2012 Dr Fairfield was appointed as a Board Member of the National Youth Justice Board for England and Wales. She chaired the Performance committee and was a member of the National Youth Justice Oversight Group.
Qualifying in medicine in 1981, Dr Fairfield worked in clinical, managerial and leadership roles across different sectors and specialties, in hospitals, general practice and public health. During her career, Dr Fairfield has held four NHS Chief Executive posts in both mental health and acute Trusts.
In 1997, she was awarded a British Medical Association Fellowship in public health to study managed care in the USA. In 1998, Dr Fairfield led on a review of prison health in England and Wales and was subsequently appointed to the post of Deputy Head of the national Prison Health Taskforce.
Alex has 18 years’ experience as a Civil Servant and Strategy Consultant across a range of roles focusing on strategy, policy, crisis management, strategic planning, senior stakeholder management, performance management and governance.
Alex is on secondment to the Fairfield Independent Review from his role as a Deputy Director in the Home Office’s Strategy Directorate since 2020, where he has led permanent and project-based multi-disciplinary teams to develop and implement strategy, lead strategic planning, develop policy, review and improve governance and accountability structures.
He was Head of the Review Team supporting Dr Gillian Fairfield in leading a comprehensive, independent review of the Independent Office for Police Conduct’s effectiveness, efficiency, accountability and governance in 2023.
He also worked closely with police partners in the Cabinet Office’s (former) Civil Contingencies Secretariat, in responding to and planning for various civil emergencies and public disorder risks, including in leading the Government’s COBR situational awareness team during the 2011 riots.
Suzanne has over 20 years’ experience in crime and security work, and has excellent knowledge about current strengths and challenges in London’s policing. She has worked extensively with UK and international police and law enforcement agencies, with partners in the voluntary and commercial sectors, and with victims and witnesses of crime. She has often been alongside, but has never been inside, the police service.
Suzanne spent a decade working at the UK Home Office, and was made an OBE in 2013 for her work securing the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. She subsequently joined the third sector, where she became CEO of internationally respected charity SafeLives. The charity’s work supports over 150k adults and children every year to be safe when facing life threatening domestic abuse. The voice of those who have historically not been listened to, including those who have been most marginalised, is of fundamental importance to her.
Suzanne stepped down from SafeLives in 2024 and currently supports a range of individuals and organisations on an independent basis. This includes Non-Executive Board roles with the England/Wales Cricket Board Regulator (with a focus on safeguarding, anti-corruption and anti-discrimination) and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). She is Trustee of Crimestoppers UK, having previously volunteered for seven years with Victim Support. In 2025 Suzanne acted as Senior Independent Reviewer for Leapwise Advisory when, on behalf of the Mayor’s Office for Police and Crime (MOPAC), they carried out a review of the London Policing Board.
In addition, the Fairfield Independent Review is supported by a multi-disciplinary team from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS). This team primarily draws upon HMICFRS Associates (retired police officers with many years’ experience within police forces and inspecting police forces), as well as senior civil servants and analysts. The Review also draws on part-time consultants who have experience and specialist expertise in human resources and governance. No team member or contributor to the Review has ever worked for the Metropolitan Police Service or Mayor’s Office for Police and Crime.